Chiral Magnetic Oxides

We seek a graduate student(s) for the synthesis and electronic transport measurements of chiral magnetic oxides. We aim to pursue how chiral structure may affect spin-specific directional electron transport in solid-state compounds, particularly those materials which apply additional spin constraints via their intrinsic magnetism. This research is motivated by recent advances in the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect [1]: the CISS effect describes the differing efficiencies of spin-up and spin-down electron transport through chiral “handed” enantiomers, presumably through a coupling of the spin degree of freedom with the momentum of the electron through the molecule, and has thus far only been studied in small molecules. With this project, we will explore the CISS effect in chiral extended solids. We wish to further gain insight on the coupling of spin with electron momentum by constraining the spin via material magnetism: when possible, the effect in intrinsically magnetic oxides and non-magnetic analogues will be compared.

Graduate students involved in this project will undertake the synthesis of bulk single crystals, their structural and magnetic characterizations, and the electronic transport measurements thereof. The option to collaborate with the catalysis group within the department for Solid State Chemistry of Prof. Claudia Felser may yield information on the interplay of the electronic states and surface microstructuring of samples with suitable bandgaps.