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New Way to Control Electrons

Idea Proposed

Chiral-Induced Unidirectional Spin-to-Charge Conversion

This new method leverages Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) to control electron flow by using chiral molecules—molecules that have a “handedness” (left- or right-handed structures). When electrons pass through these chiral molecules, they become spin-polarized, meaning their spin aligns in a specific direction. This property allows for the conversion of spin currents (electron spins without charge flow) into charge currents (usable electrical energy).



How It Works

  • A pure spin current is generated in a thin-film heterostructure made of a ferrimagnetic insulator (YIG) and a heavy metal layer (gold/Au).
  • When an external magnetic field is applied, the spin-polarized electrons interact with the chiral molecules on the metal surface.
  • This interaction selectively enhances or suppresses electron transport based on the molecular chirality, leading to a unidirectional spin-to-charge conversion via the Inverse Spin Hall Effect (ISHE).
  • The efficiency of spin selectivity is up to 60%, which is remarkable for a molecular-scale system.

How It Can Revolutionize Technology

  1. Next-Gen Spintronics:

    • This discovery paves the way for energy-efficient spin-based devices that operate without the need for external magnetic fields.
    • Could replace traditional electronics, reducing power consumption in computing.

  2. Quantum Computing & Information Processing:

    • CISS-based electron control could enable more stable and efficient qubits in quantum computers.
    • Facilitates room-temperature quantum operations, removing the need for cryogenic cooling.

  3. Ultra-Low Power Electronics:

    • Unidirectional spin control could lead to transistors and memory devices that consume significantly less energy than conventional semiconductor technology.

  4. Sustainable and Miniaturized Devices:

    • Since chiral molecules are organic and self-assembling, they offer a sustainable way to create nanostructured electronics without expensive and rare materials.

Implementation

It can be found in this paper

Ashish Moharana et al. ,Chiral-induced unidirectional spin-to-charge conversion.Sci. Adv.11,eado4285(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.ado4285

Sources & citation

Ashish Moharana et al. ,Chiral-induced unidirectional spin-to-charge conversion.Sci. Adv.11,eado4285(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.ado4285

https://scitechdaily.com/the-quantum-twist-scientists-unlock-a-new-way-to-control-electrons/