Spintronics: A Challenge for Materials Science and Solid‐State Chemistry

Abstract

Spintronics is a multidisciplinary field involving physics, chemistry, and engineering, and is a new research area for solid‐state scientists. A variety of new materials must be found to satisfy different demands. The search for ferromagnetic semiconductors and stable half‐metallic ferromagnets with Curie temperatures higher than room temperature remains a priority for solid‐state chemistry. A general understanding of structure–property relationships is a necessary prerequisite for the design of new materials. In this Review, the most important developments in the field of spintronics are described from the point of view of materials science.