Bacteriorhodopsin based non-magnetic spin filters for biomolecular spintronics

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2018 Jan 3;20(2):1091-1097. doi: 10.1039/c7cp06771b.

Abstract

We discuss spin injection and spin valves, which are based on organic and biomolecules, that offer the possibility to overcome some of the limitations of solid-state devices, which are based on ferromagnetic metal electrodes. In particular, we discuss spin filtering through bacteriorhodopsin in a solid state biomolecular spin valve that is based on the chirality induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect and shows a magnetoresistance of ∼2% at room temperature. The device is fabricated using a layer of bacteriorhodopsin (treated with n-octyl-thioglucoside detergent: OTG-bR) that is adsorbed on a cysteamine functionalized gold electrode and capped with a magnesium oxide layer as a tunneling barrier, upon which a Ni top electrode film is placed and used as a spin analyzer. The bR based spin valves show an antisymmetric magnetoresistance response when a magnetic field is applied along the direction of the current flow, whereas they display a positive symmetric magnetoresistance curve when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the current direction.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriorhodopsins / chemistry*
  • Electrodes
  • Electrons
  • Gold
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnets*
  • Thioglucosides

Substances

  • Thioglucosides
  • Bacteriorhodopsins
  • Gold
  • n-octyl-beta-D-thioglucopyranoside