Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Sherman, Suzanne
Area of Concentration
Natural Sciences, Chemistry
Abstract
Knowledge of the behavior of electrons is widely applicable across physics, chemistry, and biology, and is thus under constant research. An aspect that has been receiving much attention in recent decades is the electron spin polarization induced by interaction with chiral molecules, which the term chirality-induced spin selectivity describes. A major area of the experimental research focuses on the variables that influence the degree of spin polarization. The goal of this project is to take a step towards building an understanding of how the magnetism and conductivity of compounds composing a chiral crystal influence the degree of spin polarization it exhibits. To achieve this, several crystals with various metals (In, Cd, Cu, Gd, and Pt) and ligands were the targets of synthesis. For some targets, the intent was to compare crystals of the same ligand and space group, but with metal centers of different magnetism. For the Pt target, tunable conductivity was previously reported but not analyzed in terms of chirality-induced spin selectivity. Two targets were successfully obtained and characterized, NH4[In(C2O4)2]·2H2O, and N(CH3)4[CdBr3]. Neither were properly chiral, however, due to twinning of the crystal structure that was observed through single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. There are many difficulties that stand in the way of conclusive, quantifiable analysis of chirality-induced spin selectivity. On the experimental side, it lies in how very specific conditions and choices of target must be reached in order to obtain samples that can be properly compared with only the desired variables influencing the spin polarization.
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Ashleigh, "Design and Synthesis of Chiral Coordination Polymers for Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity" (2026). Theses & ETDs. 6889.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6889
Rights
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