Researchers at NIST have created the first confirmed spintronic device using organic molecules, a significant development for next-generation electronics. Spintronics uses electron spin (magnetic orientation) rather than charge for data processing, offering potential benefits like higher speed and smaller size compared to conventional electronics.
The NIST team built a nanoscale test structure with a one-molecule-thick layer of self-assembled organic molecules sandwiched between nickel and cobalt electrodes. By applying an electric current and measuring resulting voltage levels, they confirmed electron tunneling through the molecular layer and magnetic switching behavior in the electrodes.
This breakthrough provides experimental evidence of molecular spintronics and could aid development of practical devices. The work was supported in part by DARPA.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2006/10/molecular-spintronic-action-confirmed-nanostructure
Keywords: electron spin, spintronics, magnetic orientation, electron tunneling
