Spin-dependent electrochemistry: Enantio-selectivity driven by chiral-induced spin selectivity effect

Spin-Dependent Electrochemistry (SDE) is a new paradigm in electrochemistry where the electrochemical response of a chiral electrode|solution interface is studied as a function of spin-polarized current. In this work, the SDE concept is further developed exploring the use of the “chiral imprinting” concept, which is implemented in two different, complementary, ways i) a chiral compound in bulk solution to obtain chiral-induced spin selectivity effect at the ferromagnetic (FM) electrode surface ii) conversely, a chiral-ferromagnetic (CFM) hybrid working electrode is produced: nickel is electrochemically co-deposited with a chiral compound, L-ta or D-(−)-tartaric acid, which is added to the electrodeposition bath; this allows to obtain a chiral co-deposited nickel-tartaric acid (Ni-LTA or Ni-DTA) working electrode. As a further innovation, the ferromagnetic working electrode is prepared by direct Ni electrodeposition on the north, or south, pole of a permanent magnet. The electrochemical response of these two chiral imprinted systems is studied by comparing cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves. The latter are recorded in the potential range relevant to the Ni(III)/Ni(II) electrochemical equilibrium, and also in the presence of glucose in bulk solution. An impressive variation in peak potentials is found when comparing CVs recorded on the north, versus south, pole of the magnet (in particular, when the co-deposited CFM working electrode is used). These results are properly rationalized within the Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect.