Mapping the Invisible: Nanoscale Spin Maps in Chiral Perovskites

Chiral perovskites spin mapping

In a major breakthrough for the future of quantum information science and spintronics, an international team of researchers has achieved the first nanoscale visualization of how chiral perovskites manipulate electron spin. Using a customized Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) technique, the team successfully mapped the elusive chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect within thin films of chiral halide perovskites — revealing spin behavior with unprecedented clarity and precision.

Why Spin Matters: The Promise of Spintronics

Unlike traditional electronics, which rely on the movement of charge, spintronics harnesses the quantum property of electron spin. By encoding information in spin orientation (up or down), spin-based devices can process and store data more efficiently, offering the potential for low-power, high-speed computing. Applications range from neuromorphic circuits to quantum computing, where controlling spin states is a cornerstone of next-generation technology.

Chiral halide perovskites are uniquely suited for this task. Their intrinsic asymmetry allows them to act as spin filters, preferentially guiding electrons of specific spin orientation even at room temperature. This unusual property makes them prime candidates for multifunctional devices that combine optics, electronics, and spintronics in a single platform.

The Challenge: Visualizing Spin at the Nanoscale

Until now, researchers could only indirectly detect spin selectivity in these materials. Conventional methods lacked the spatial resolution to capture nanoscale variations, leaving a critical gap in understanding how microscopic heterogeneity impacts device performance. The new KPFM-based approach solves this problem by exploiting subtle changes in surface potential that are modulated by spin orientation. By scanning films under varying magnetic fields, the team constructed high-resolution “spin maps” that show both magnitude and uniformity of spin polarization across material surfaces.

This approach also uncovered the presence of spin–Schottky junctions at the interfaces between chiral perovskites and metallic electrodes. These junctions create spin-dependent energy barriers that dictate how efficiently electrons are injected across boundaries — a key factor in designing practical spintronic devices.

Chiral Perovskites: A Material with Dual Power

Perovskites are already famous for their role in next-generation solar cells, where their excellent light-harvesting properties have driven rapid efficiency improvements. Now, their ability to control spin in addition to charge and light positions them at the frontier of multifunctional material science. This dual capability opens doors to devices that merge photonics, electronics, and spintronics in a coherent, room-temperature-operable architecture.

The researchers identified several factors influencing spin-selective efficiency: the type of chiral cations, thin-film thickness, and fabrication methods. Variations in these parameters create nanoscale inhomogeneities, pointing to the need for precise engineering if perovskite-based spintronic devices are to become commercially viable.

Implications for Quantum and Neuromorphic Computing

The ability to directly observe and quantify spin selectivity represents a turning point. With a robust measurement platform in hand, scientists can now rationally design perovskite materials optimized for energy-efficient computing, quantum information storage, and brain-inspired neuromorphic circuits. Spin-polarized currents could, for instance, form the basis of non-volatile memory devices or enable quantum bits (qubits) with longer coherence times.

Beyond perovskites, the KPFM methodology may inspire broader applications in investigating spin phenomena across other chiral and low-dimensional materials, expanding the toolkit for the entire spintronics research community.

Looking Ahead

This pioneering study, published in National Science Review, underscores how interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced imaging techniques are accelerating progress in material science. By bridging the gap between fundamental quantum spin physics and device-level engineering, the work lays a strong foundation for spin-based technologies that could redefine computing and communication in the decades ahead.

Source: International collaboration including Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (CAS), HKUST, and NREL. Original article: Bioengineer.org – Researchers unveil nanoscale spin maps in chiral perovskites.

*This blog article was prepared with the help of AI technologies to provide an accessible and engaging summary of recent research.*

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