Organic Semiconductors for Room-Temperature Spin Valves

Organic spin valves (OSVs) with a potentially low power consumption and unique multifunctionality are regarded as one of the most promising next-generation electronic devices. Since the birth of the first OSV in 2004, a large number of classical organic semiconductors (OSCs) have realized spin transport in the field of organic spintronics. Nevertheless, most of the studies regarding spin transport based on organic molecules are carried out at ultralow temperatures, which makes future applications of organic spintronics face great challenges. In this Perspective, we first present the basic operating principle and mechanism of OSVs. Subsequently, the importance of FM electrode selection and spinterface for realizing the room-temperature spin transport are briefly summarized, and we review the state-of-the-art progress of OSCs, including small molecules and polymers with room-temperature spin transport in spin valves. At last, the effects of carrier mobility and spin relaxation time on the spin diffusion length have been systematically analyzed. Consequently, we present a feasible perspective for improving the spin transport properties of OSCs.