Spin-dependent electron transport in protein-like single-helical molecules

Abstract

We report on a theoretical study of spin-dependent electron transport through single-helical molecules connected by two nonmagnetic electrodes, and explain the experiment of significant spin-selective phenomenon observed in α-helical protein and the contradictory results between the protein and single-stranded DNA. Our results reveal that the α-helical protein is an efficient spin filter and the spin polarization is robust against the disorder. These results are in excellent agreement with recent experiments [Mishra D, et al. (2013) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110(37):14872-14876; Göhler B, et al. (2011) Science 331(6019):894-897] and may facilitate engineering of chiral-based spintronic devices.