Using the tight-binding formalism, we study spin and charge transport through a zigzag silicene ribbon subject to an external electric field $E_z$. The effect of an exchange field $M_z$ is also taken into account and its consequences on the band structure as well as spin transport are evaluated. We show that the band structure lacks spin inversion symmetry in the presence of intrinsic spin-orbit interaction in combination of $E_z$ and $M_z$ fields. Our quantum transport calculations indicate that for certain energy ranges of the incoming electrons the silicene ribbon can act as a controllable high-efficiency spin polarizer. The polarization maxima occur simultaneously with the van Hove singularities of the local density of states. In this case, the combination of electric and exchange fields is the key to achieving nearly perfect spin polarization, which also leads to the appearance of additional narrow plateaus in the quantum conductance. Moreover, we demonstrate that the output current still remains completely spin-polarized for low-energy carriers even when a few edge vacancies are present.

• Received 17 February 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.035413