This review describes a new paradigm of electronics based on the spin degree of freedom of the electron. Either adding the spin degree of freedom to conventional charge-based electronic devices or using the spin alone has the potential advantages of nonvolatility, increased data processing speed, decreased electric power consumption, and increased integration densities compared with conventional semiconductor devices. To successfully incorporate spins into existing semiconductor technology, one has to resolve technical issues such as efficient injection, transport, control and manipulation, and detection of spin polarization as well as spin-polarized currents. Recent advances in new materials engineering hold the promise of realizing spintronic devices in the near future. We review the current state of the spin-based devices, efforts in new materials fabrication, issues in spin transport, and optical spin manipulation.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/294/5546/1488.full.pdf

Spintronics: a spin-based electronics vision for the future.

Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties. Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.

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Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications

Nanocrystals (NCs) discussed in this Review are tiny crystals of metals, semiconductors, and magnetic material consisting of hundreds to a few thousand atoms each. Their size ranges from 2-3 to about 20 nm. What is special about this size regime that placed NCs among the hottest research topics of the last decades? The quantum mechanical coupling * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dvtalapin@uchicago.edu. † The University of Chicago. ‡ Argonne National Lab. Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 389–458 389

/pdf/prospects-of-colloidal-nanocrystals-for-electronic-and-3dxpyhl3r7.pdf

Prospects of Colloidal Nanocrystals for Electronic and Optoelectronic Applications

Electrical current can be completely spin polarized in a class of materials known as half-metals, as a result of the coexistence of metallic nature for electrons with one spin orientation and insulating nature for electrons with the other. Such asymmetric electronic states for the different spins have been predicted for some ferromagnetic metals--for example, the Heusler compounds--and were first observed in a manganese perovskite. In view of the potential for use of this property in realizing spin-based electronics, substantial efforts have been made to search for half-metallic materials. However, organic materials have hardly been investigated in this context even though carbon-based nanostructures hold significant promise for future electronic devices. Here we predict half-metallicity in nanometre-scale graphene ribbons by using first-principles calculations. We show that this phenomenon is realizable if in-plane homogeneous electric fields are applied across the zigzag-shaped edges of the graphene nanoribbons, and that their magnetic properties can be controlled by the external electric fields. The results are not only of scientific interest in the interplay between electric fields and electronic spin degree of freedom in solids but may also open a new path to explore spintronics at the nanometre scale, based on graphene.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0611600.pdf

Half-metallic graphene nanoribbons

The recent literature concerning the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been reviewed. The MCE properties have been compiled and correlations have been made comparing the behaviours of the different families of magnetic materials which exhibit large or unusual MCE values. These families include: the lanthanide (R) Laves phases (RM2, where M = Al, Co and Ni), Gd5(Si1−xGex)4 ,M n(As1−xSbx), MnFe(P1−xAsx), La(Fe13−xSix) and their hydrides and the manganites (R1−xMxMnO3, where R = lanthanide and M = Ca, Sr and Ba). The potential for use of these materials in magnetic refrigeration is discussed, including a comparison with Gd as a near room temperature active magnetic regenerator material. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0034-4885/68/6/R04/pdf

Recent developments in magnetocaloric materials

The band structure of Mn-based Heusler alloys of the $C{1}_{b}$ crystal structure (MgAgAs type) has been calculated with the augmented-spherical-wave method. Some of these magnetic compounds show unusual electronic properties. The majority-spin electrons are metallic, whereas the minority-spin electrons are semiconducting.

/pdf/new-class-of-materials-half-metallic-ferromagnets-1qhtrvhpje.pdf

New Class of Materials: Half-Metallic Ferromagnets

Magneto-optical properties of metallic ferromagnetic materials

Results are given of a study of the change in hydrogen sorption properties caused by partly replacing La or Ni in LaNi5 by other metals. Desorption isotherms at 40 deg C were measured for or Cu, and for La0.8R0.2Ni5, where represents Nd, Gd, Y, and Er, also Th and Zr. Equilibrium hydrogen pressures in the two-phase region can be explained qualitatively by assuming that the more stable the original RNi5 compound, the weaker is the tendency to form a RNi5--hydride, i.e., the higher the equilibrium pressure obtained for the hydride. This assumption which connects the stability of ternary hydrides with the heat of formation of the original compounds can also be formulated in a more quantitative way. This leads to a fair description of the experimental observations for the compounds having the CaCu5 type of structure.

Hydrogen absorption in LaNi5 and related compounds: Experimental observations and their explanation

A brief historical survey is given of how the study of coercitivity mechanisms in SmCo5 permanent-magnet materials eventually led to the discovery of the favourable hydrogen sorption properties of the compound LaNi5. It is shown how continued research by many investigators dealing with a variety of different physical and chemical properties has resulted in an advanced understanding of some of the principles that govern hydrogen absorption and which are responsible for the changes in physical properties that accompany it. The problems associated with various applications of LaNi5-based hydrogen-storage materials are also briefly discussed. A large part of this paper is devoted to the applicability of LaNi5-type materials in batteries. Research in this area has resulted in the development of a new type of rechargeable battery: the nickel-hydride cell. This battery can be charged and discharged at high rates and is relatively insensitive to overcharging and overdischarging. Special attention is given to the nature of the electrode degradation process and the effect of composition variations in LaNi5-related materials on the lifetime of the corresponding hydride electrodes when subjected to severe electrochemical charge-discharge cycles.

K.H.J. Buschow

Papers

New Class of Materials: Half-Metallic Ferromagnets

Magneto-optical properties of metallic ferromagnetic materials

Hydrogen absorption in LaNi5 and related compounds: Experimental observations and their explanation

From permanent magnets to rechargeable hydride electrodes

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of heusler alloys based on aluminium and gallium