Chirality-induced spin selectivity: an interdisciplinary perspective from chemical physics to biology

The chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect refers to an interdisciplinary quantum phenomenon in which chiral molecules influence the spin of the electrons passing through them. Since the groundbreaking discovery of the CISS effect in 1999 by Prof. Ron Naaman and co-workers, considerable theoretical and experimental efforts have been made to unravel the underlying physics and complex mechanisms of this interesting phenomenon. The discovery of a fundamental relationship between electron spin and chiral symmetry in chiral molecules has implications for existing technologies and new approaches to solve the long-standing problems, such as clean energy conversion, explaining anesthesia mechanisms, spintronic applications, homochirality problem, and improving the efficiency of drugs, pesticides, and fertilizers. Furthermore, CISS highlights how spin dynamics, often studied in condensed matter physics, is influenced by the molecular chiral framework, which is also fundamental to chemical and biological systems. This article explores how the CISS effect serves as a bridge between different domains of science and provides a better understanding of molecular recognition, electron transport and spin-dependent processes that are essential to life and technology.