Spintronic devices exploit the spin, as well as the charge, of electrons and could bring new capabilities to the microelectronics industry. However, in order for spintronic devices to meet the ever-increasing demands of the industry, innovation in terms of materials, processes and circuits are required. Here, we review recent developments in spintronics that could soon have an impact on the microelectronics and information technology industry. We highlight and explore four key areas: magnetic memories, magnetic sensors, radio-frequency and microwave devices, and logic and non-Boolean devices. We also discuss the challenges—at both the device and the system level—that need be addressed in order to integrate spintronic materials and functionalities into mainstream microelectronic platforms.

自旋电子器件可以利用电子的自旋以及电荷，可以为微电子工业带来新的功能。但是，为了使自旋电子器件能够满足行业不断增长的需求，需要在材料，工艺和电路方面进行创新。在这里，我们回顾了自旋电子学的最新发展，这些发展很快将对微电子学和信息技术产业产生影响。我们重点介绍并探索了四个关键领域：磁存储器，磁传感器，射频和微波设备以及逻辑和非布尔设备。我们还将讨论在设备和系统层面上都需要解决的挑战，以便将自旋电子材料和功能集成到主流微电子平台中。