Chirality – Beyond the Structural Effects

Usually, when one refers to chirality, one focuses on the structural properties of the molecules. This review focuses on the interesting electronic properties of these molecules, and specifically, on the interrelation between the spin of the electrons transmitted through molecules and the chiral structure of these molecules. This relation is expressed in the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, which is described, including some of its implications. Specifically, several applications are described, in spintronics, in spin-specific reactivity, and in spin-controlled multiple-electron oxidation processes. In the latter, experimental results are described that demonstrate that by coating the anode of a photoelectrochemical cell with chiral molecules, the overpotential of the water-splitting process can be reduced.