Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CISSE (Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity Effect)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31
The CISSE doctoral network puts together young scientists intrigued by the Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect that is the intimate link between the chirality of molecules and the spin of electrons. Chirality is a property of objects and molecules that cannot be superimposed on their mirror image. The spin that is the angular momentum of electrons, is an intrinsic property of elementary particles, like the mass and the electric charge are. The interplay between chirality and spin is an ideal field to train doctoral candidates (DCs) by exposing them to fresh views on pivotal chemical concepts. The CISSE objectives are twofold. On the one hand, the CISSE network seeks to make a giant leap forward into the knowledge and understanding of the intriguing CISS effect. On the other hand, CISSE delivers the finest quality research training and transfer of knowledge to ten DCs in an interdisciplinary, inter-sectoral, and revolutionary research field.
Ten talented young researchers have been hired. An individual Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) has been established for each of them. They are continuously being trained in different interdisciplinary technical issues related to the scientific objectives of the project as well as in a large variety of soft skills. The young researchers are collaborating intensively to understand the mechanism and scope of the CISS effect but also to use it in practical applications in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The main achievements reached so far are: i) A better understanding of the role of molecular and supramolecular structures on the strength of the spin polarization; ii) The understanding that CISS encompasses a family of physical and chemical effects caused by different mechanisms; and iii) The angular dependence of the strength of the CISS effect assessing recent theoretical predictions.
Each partner has been actively involved in advertising open positions to recruit young researchers, promoting the project, and participating in online events. In parallel, all DCs have been actively committed in disseminating through posters, papers and online events.
Project media channel has been regularly updated with the DCs social media campaign via the X x.com/CISSE_MSCA and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisse-chiral-induced-spin-selectivity-effect/(opens in new window)) accounts as well as the project website cisse-msca.eu.
Each partner has been actively involved in advertising open positions to recruit young researchers, promoting the project, and participating in online events. In parallel, all DCs have been actively committed in disseminating through posters, papers and online events.
Project media channel has been regularly updated with the DCs social media campaign via the X x.com/CISSE_MSCA and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisse-chiral-induced-spin-selectivity-effect/(opens in new window)) accounts as well as the project website cisse-msca.eu.
CISSE has essentially pushed the frontiers of the fundamental understanding of CISS effect, notably through the recognition that it implies a variety of phenomena resulting from a diversity of mechanisms. For example, the CISS effect resulting from electric charge transport differs from the CISS effect implying the exchange of electrons. It is anticipated that new knowledge will pave the way to spintronics, i.e. the process and storage of information by electron spins instead of electrical charges to reduce energy consumption and to spin-control chemical reactivity. CISSE also contributes to elucidating the origin of life on Earth, i.e. how an inert world has turned into rich ecosystems with incredible biodiversity.