Chirality and spin- a match for spintronics and for electron transfer in biology

Ron Naaman, Chemical Physics, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel

Spin based properties, applications, and devices are commonly related to magnetic effects and to magnetic materials. However, we found that chiral organic molecules can act as spin filters for photoelectrons transmission,[i] in electron transfer,[ii] and in electron transport.[iii]

We found a new effect, termed Chiral Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS),[iv] which has interesting implications for the production of new types of spintronics devices[v] and on electron transfer in biological systems. The effect was found in bio-molecules and in bio-systems like the photosystem I. It will be shown how the CISS effect may reduce the back scattering in those systems. The basic effect, and its applications and implications, will be presented including a quantitative theory that explains the effect.