HKUST perovskite quantum wells keep spin polarisation alive at room temperature

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Spin based electronics could become more practical thanks to new materials work in Hong Kong. Quantum Zeitgeist reports that a team led by Professor Lu Haipeng at HKUST has made perovskite quantum wells that keep spin polarisation about 300 times longer at room temperature, with the results published in Nature Photonics

The team grew chiral multiple quantum wells using a two step seed assisted crystallisation method. A spin cascade through intermediate states reduces an interface effect called Rashba splitting, which normally destroys spin quickly

Until now, long lived spin in these materials needed ultracold temperatures. The new wells showed spin dependent charge transport above 80 percent polarisation, and circularly polarised light emission with a dissymmetry factor of 0.014

Proof of concept uses included X ray triggered photopolymerisation and polarised light detection. The team said the approach enables efficient spin transfer and prolonged spin polarisation in perovskite semiconductors, though no baseline was given for the 300 times figure

Room temperature spin control would remove one of the biggest barriers to spintronics, since cooling is expensive and bulky. Perovskites are already exciting for solar cells, so finding new uses is a bonus. Polarised light detectors could be useful in imaging and communications

Could spintronics replace parts of conventional electronics? And what other uses can you see for perovskites?

Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology Team Achieves 300x Spin Lifetime Boost In Perovskitesquantumzeitgeist.com