Chirality‐Induced Spin Selectivity: An Enabling Technology for Quantum Applications

Abstract

Molecular spins are promising building blocks of future quantum technologies thanks to the unparalleled flexibility provided by chemistry, which allows the design of complex structures targeted for specific applications. However, their weak interaction with external stimuli makes it difficult to access their state at the single‐molecule level, a fundamental tool for their use, for example, in quantum computing and sensing. Here, an innovative solution exploiting the interplay between chirality and magnetism using the chirality‐induced spin selectivity effect on electron transfer processes is foreseen. It is envisioned to use a spin‐to‐charge conversion mechanism that can be realized by connecting a molecular spin qubit to a dyad where an electron donor and an electron acceptor are linked by a chiral bridge. By numerical simulations based on realistic parameters, it is shown that the chirality‐induced spin selectivity effect could enable initialization, manipulation, and single‐spin readout of molecular qubits and qudits even at relatively high temperatures.

Efficient Spin-Selective Electron Transport at Low Voltages of Thia-Bridged Triarylamine Hetero[4]helicenes Chemisorbed Monolayer

“…17,18 The spin selectivity properties of the latter have been also theoretically modeled considering the key role of spin−orbit interactions 19 and make these molecules suitable as a tool for quantum technologies working at room temperature. 20 Recently, some of us studied and developed a deposition procedure of a thia [4]helicene radical cation 21 on a surface at the submonolayer coverage exploiting noncovalent interactions between those molecules and a thiophenol templated Au(111) substrate. 22 Herein, moving toward a more robust architecture, we investigated the CISS effect on a neutral thioacetyl derivative of thia [4]helicene that was synthesized and chemically anchored on a gold surface for this purpose.…”

“…This phenomenon, discovered by Naaman et al and renamed Chirality Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect, suggests the use of a chiral molecule as a spin-selective agent . CISS has been observed for several molecules of biological interest, such as oligopeptides, , DNA, and proteins, and also for molecules like helicenes. , The spin selectivity properties of the latter have been also theoretically modeled considering the key role of spin–orbit interactions and make these molecules suitable as a tool for quantum technologies working at room temperature . Recently, some of us studied and developed a deposition procedure of a thia[4]­helicene radical cation on a surface at the submonolayer coverage exploiting noncovalent interactions between those molecules and a thiophenol templated Au(111) substrate .…”

Get under the Umbrella: A Comprehensive Gateway for Researchers on Lanthanide‐Based Single‐Molecule Magnets

“…In 2023, [291] S. Caretta et al. reviewed how chirality‐induced spin selectivity (CISS) can be used in future quantum devices including either 3d or 4 f ions.…”

Nonequilibrium Magneto-Conductance as a Manifestation of Spin Filtering in Chiral Nanojunctions

“…In particular, in combination with the breaking of inversion symmetry in bulk materials, spin–orbit coupling (SOC) translates into the appearance of spin textures in reciprocal space and enables nonequilibrium phenomena such as spin-charge conversion, spin accumulation, and magneto-conductance (MC). − In solids, the spin Hall effect , or the Edelstein effect, among others, results from it. More recently, chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS), − a seemingly related effect by which electrons propagating through chiral junctions (often involving chiral molecules) get spin polarized on average, has been proposed as an enabler for spintronics and quantum computing applications. − The CISS effect is typically revealed as a finite MC in two-terminal devices by introducing a ferromagnetic detector. − …”