Ultrahigh Magnetoresistance at Room Temperature in Molecular Wires

Abstract

More Magnetoresistance When data is read off your computer's hard drive, chances are that the read head is using the phenomenon of magnetoresistance (MR)—the dependence of electrical resistance on applied magnetic field—to interpret the magnetic signature of the data on the disk. Devices that have the large MR necessary for such tasks are usually made of layers of magnetic materials. Mahato et al. (p. 257 , published online 4 July) observed a large MR effect in a nonmagnetic material—organic molecules squeezed into a zeolite crystal. Importantly for potential future applications, the effect was observed at room temperature and at low magnetic fields.