From heart health to future tech: Study reveals cholesterol could power next-generation gadgets

Cholesterol, a common component found in the human body, can be used to control the spin of electrons, an invisible quantum property that could contribute to the development of energy-efficient next-generation electronic devices, a new study has revealed.

The finding could lead to the development of energy-efficient memory chips for greener technology and bio-electronic devices. This represents a substantial advancement in the development of bio-materials for advanced quantum and spin technologies, according to information shared by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday.

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, said that cholesterol — the fat-like substance which is typically related to heart diseases — serves as an ideal platform for constructing complex spintronic materials that use both the electrical charge as well as the intrinsic spin of electrons to function. Spintronic materials can manipulate the spin of electrons – a physical feature critical for the next generation of electronics.

By combining metal ions with the organic framework, the team of scientists, led by Dr Amit Kumar Mondal, has shown how well a material can separate electrons based on their “magnetic spin” orientation by adjusting the kind and concentration of metal ions. This is because it enables precise control over molecular properties due to its intrinsic handedness and flexibility.

The researchers have created nanomaterials by combining cholesterol with different metal ions that selectively filter electron spins. Both spin directions could be controlled within a single system.

This means that with a simple chemical tweak or an achiral chemical stimulus the scientists could tune the flow of spin information. Their findings have been published in Chemistry of Materials, a peer reviewed journal.