Molecular spintronics

Molecules emerged as intriguing materials for spintronics due to their weak spin scattering mechanisms and long spin lifetime, which permit them to retain the spin information over relatively long times. Due to this peculiarity, thin molecular films were initially used as passive spin-transporting media in hybrid spin-valve architectures. Over time, molecules acquired a more active role for spintronics, enabling the generation of hybrid electronic states with peculiar magnetic textures. Moreover, molecular magnets offer the opportunity to manipulate individual spins, representing a two-level system ideal for quantum computing. Evolving at the crossroad between these topics, molecular spintronics has become a broad and interdisciplinary research area in which the paths of conventional spintronics, organic electronics, surface science, and single-molecule devices are converging, offering innovative solutions for next-generation spintronics and quantum technology. For these reasons, the Journal of Applied Physics has assembled a special topic covering different approaches on this exciting subject.