Spin caloritronics
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Updated: May 23, 2026

Solution-Processed, Surface-Engineered, Polycrystalline CdSe-SnSe Exhibiting Low Thermal Conductivity
Published on: May 17, 2024
Gerrit E W Bauer1, Eiji Saitoh, Bart J van Wees
1Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan. g.e.w.bauer@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
Abstract:
Spintronics is about the coupled electron spin and charge transport in condensed-matter structures and devices. The recently invigorated field of spin caloritronics focuses on the interaction of spins with heat currents, motivated by newly discovered physical effects and strategies to improve existing thermoelectric devices. Here we give an overview of our understanding and the experimental state-of-the-art concerning the coupling of spin, charge and heat currents in magnetic thin films and nanostructures. Known phenomena are classified either as independent electron (such as spin-dependent Seebeck) effects in metals that can be understood by a model of two parallel spin-transport channels with different thermoelectric properties, or as collective (such as spin Seebeck) effects, caused by spin waves, that also exist in insulating ferromagnets. The search to find applications--for example heat sensors and waste heat recyclers--is on.
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