Rapid Fire
Chirality-Based Electronics
- 16 Feb 2026
- 2 min read
A new study published in Nature has demonstrated a device that can separate electrons based on their chirality (handedness) without using powerful magnetic fields, marking progress towards low-power devices.
- Chirality in electrons: Similar to how the left and right hands are mirror images, electrons in topological semimetals possess left- or right-handed chirality.
- Chirality represents a specific quantum state of electrons moving inside a crystal lattice.
- Semimetals, or Metalloids, are brittle solids with a metallic appearance but nonmetal chemical properties. They are neither good electrical nor thermal conductors, yet they make excellent semiconductors and form amphoteric oxides.
- Problem in detection: Chiral electrons are mixed with ordinary (non-chiral) electrons. Earlier detection methods required strong magnetic fields or chemical doping, making large-scale application impractical.
- Role of Band Structure (Quantum Geometry): In crystals, electrons behave like waves constrained by band structure.
- Unlike straight electron motion in copper wiring, palladium gallium (PdGa) crystal has a “twisted” band structure, causing electrons to drift sideways. The direction of drift depends on electron chirality.
- Device Mechanism: The team fabricated a three-armed device. By passing a current through it, the quantum geometry of PdGa acts as a valve, funnelling left-handed electrons into one arm and right-handed electrons into another, effectively demonstrating a chiral valve.
- Path to Applications: It could lead to low-power computing technologies and novel forms of magnetic memory devices.
| Read More: Quantum Technology |
