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David Waldeck

Position
Faculty
Email
dave@pitt.edu
Phone

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Affiliation
Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
Institution
University of Pittsburgh
Research

The Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity Effect
Waldeck’s group is examining the nature of the Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect and exploring ways in which it can be exploited technologically. As electrons move through a chiral molecule (or structure) the electron current generates an effective magnetic field, , that acts on the electrons’ intrinsic magnetic moment. Thus, a preference exists for electrons with one magnetic moment direction to pass through the chiral molecule (or structure). A thorough understanding of the properties that affect the chiral induced spin selectivity effect is important for realizing its true potential.
The chiral induced spin selectivity effect can be exploited for facilitating chemical reactions. We demonstrated that chiral materials are accompanied by a spin polarization that can be used to discriminate between triplet and singlet reaction pathways. Additionally, these studies are guiding the development of new methods for enantiomeric separation and discrimination.
Chiral nanomaterials represent a new class of materials with promising properties for applications in the fields of optoelectronics and spintronics, amongst others. This part of our group is focused on the synthesis of new chiral nanomaterials and understanding mechanistically how the chirality manifests. These studies are pointing to structure – property relationships for the rational design of new chiral materials. We are studying spin-mediated processes of chiral materials and the tantalizing phenomena that manifest. Our work is leading to technological breakthroughs in the separation of enantiomers, the miniaturization of ferromagnets, and chiral oxide spin filters.

Most Cited Publications

"Photoisomerization dynamics of stilbenes." David H Waldeck. Chemical Reviews.
"Noncovalent engineering of carbon nanotube surfaces by rigid, functional conjugated polymers." Jian Chen, Haiying Liu, Wayne A Weimer, Mathew D Halls, David H Waldeck, Gilbert C Walker. Journal of the American Chemical Society.
"Breakdown of Kramers theory description of photochemical isomerization and the possible involvement of frequency dependent friction." Stephan P Velsko, David H Waldeck, Graham R Fleming. The Journal of Chemical Physics.
"Spintronics and chirality: Spin selectivity in electron transport through chiral molecules." Ron Naaman and David H. Waldeck. Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem 66 (2015), 263-281. 
"Chiral-induced spin selectivity effect." Ron Naaman and David H. Waldeck, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 3 (2012), 2178-2187.

Recent Publications

"Chiral Induced Spin Selectivity and Its Implications for Biological Functions" Ron Naaman, Yossi Paltiel, and David H. Waldeck. Ann. Rev. Biphysics. 51 (2022)99-114. 
"Enantiospecificity of Cysteine Adsorption on a Ferromagnetic Surface: Is It Kinetically or Thermodynamically Controlled?" Yiyang Lu, Brian P. Bloom, Shangyu Qian, David H. Waldeck. J. Phys. Chem. Letters 12 (2021) 7854-7858. 
"Delocalization-assisted transport through nucleic acids in molecular junctions" Jesus Baldiviezo, Caleb Clever, Edward Beall, Alexander Pearse, Yookyung Bae, Peng Zhang, Catalina Achim, David N. Beratan, and David H. Waldeck. Biochemistry 60 (2021) 1368-1378. 
"The spin selectivity effect in chiral materials" David H. Waldeck, Ron Naaman, Yossi Paltiel APL Materials 9 (2021) 040902. 
"Increasing the Efficiency of Water Splitting through Spin Polarization using Cobalt Oxide Thin Film Catalysts." Supriya Ghosh, Brian P. Bloom, Yiyang Lu, Daniel Lamont, and David H. Waldeck. J. Phys. Chem. C 124 (2020) 22610-22618.

Office
G-10 Chevron Science Center
Office URL
https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%211m18%211m12%211m3%211d3036.3340402764943%212d-79.9600009846032%213d40.44574307936173%212m3%211f0%212f0%213f0%213m2%211i1024%212i768%214f13.1%213m3%211m2%211s0x8834f229532c90fb%3A0x8f72f6f36e9d41ee%212sChevron%20Science%20Center%2C%20Pittsburgh%2C%20PA%2015213%215e0%213m2%211sen%212sus%214v1452294825551