Molecular-Spintronics: the art of driving spin through molecules

Abstract

Spintronics is the ability of injecting, manipulating and detecting electron spins into solid state systems. Molecular-electronics investigates the possibility of making electronic devices using organic molecules. Traditionally these two burgeoning areas have lived separate lives, but recently a growing number of experiments have indicated a possible pathway towards their integration. This is the playground for molecular-spintronics, where spin-polarized currents are carried through molecules, and in turn they can affect the state of the molecule. We review the most recent advances in molecular-spintronics. In particular we discuss how a fully quantitative theory for spin-transport in nanostructures can offer fundamental insights into the main factors affecting spin-transport at the molecular level, and can help in designing novel concept devices.