Chiral oxide catalysts align electron spin

Physicist Paul Möllers prepares the correct positioning of a sample in the vacuum chamber to which the spin polarimeter is connected. WWU - Tobias Reiker Controlling the spin of electrons opens up future scenarios for applications in spin-based electronics (spintronics), for example in data processing. It also presents new opportunities for controlling the selectivity and efficiency of chemical reactions. Researchers recently presented first successes with the example of water splitting for producing "green" hydrogen and oxygen. A joint project involving working groups from the Center for Soft Nanoscience at the University of Münster and from the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA; Prof. David Waldeck) now have the task of advancing the systematic development of spin-selective catalyst materials. To this end, the researchers relate the catalytic activity of various inorganic spin-polarising materials to direct measurements of the spin selectivity. The focus is on oxide materials which were purposely grown with a chiral structure.