David Waldeck

Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Chicago, 1983
Summary:

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.

Students
Namesort descending Position Email
Albro, Joe Graduate Student jaa177@pitt.edu
Bloom, Brian Postdoctoral Fellow bpb8@pitt.edu
Clever, Caleb Graduate Student cbc48@pitt.edu
Georgieva, Zheni Graduate Student zng2@pitt.edu
Lu, Yiyang Graduate Student yil212@pitt.edu
Rivas, Jose Graduate Student jerr225@pitt.edu
Tabassum, Nazifa Graduate Student nat73@pitt.edu
V, Aravind Graduate Student arv47@pitt.edu
Wei, Simon Graduate Student jiw105@pitt.edu

Joe Albro

Graduate Student

jaa177@pitt.edu
3941 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh PA, 15260, Pittsburgh PA, 15260

Affiliation:

Physics
University of Pittsburgh

Edward Beall

Graduate Student

ejb65@pitt.edu
219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh PA, 15260
443-277-2648

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Brian Bloom

Postdoctoral Fellow

bpb8@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Caleb Clever

Graduate Student

cbc48@pitt.edu
G10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Arthur Davis

Graduate Student

acd47@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Zheni Georgieva

Graduate Student

zng2@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Dan Lamont

Graduate Student

dnl22@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Yiyang Lu

Graduate Student

yil212@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemical Engineering
University of Pittsburgh

Jose Rivas

Graduate Student

jerr225@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Nazifa Tabassum

Graduate Student

nat73@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Aravind V

Graduate Student

arv47@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Simon Wei

Graduate Student

jiw105@pitt.edu
G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh

Emil Wierzbinski

Graduate Student


G-10 Chevron Science Center, Pittsburgh PA, 15213

Affiliation:

Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
Most Cited Publications
  1. "Photoisomerization dynamics of stilbenes." David H Waldeck. Chemical Reviews.
  2. "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.
  3. "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.
  4. "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. 
  5. "Chiral-induced spin selectivity effect." Ron Naaman and David H. Waldeck, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 3 (2012), 2178-2187.
Recent Publications
  1. "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. 
  2. "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. 
  3. "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. 
  4. "The spin selectivity effect in chiral materials" David H. Waldeck, Ron Naaman, Yossi Paltiel APL Materials 9 (2021) 040902. 
  5. "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.

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