Challenges and opportunities in searching for Rashba-Dresselhaus materials for efficient spin-charge interconversion at room temperature

Spintronic logic devices require efficient spin -charge interconversion: converting charge current to spin current and spin current to charge current. In spin-orbit materials that are regarded as the most promising candidate for spintronic logic devices, one mechanism that is responsible for spin -charge interconversion is Edelstein and inverse Edelstein effects based on spin -momentum locking in materials with Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling. Over last decade, there has been rapid progresses for increasing interconversion efficiencies due to the Edelstein effect in a few Rashba-Dresselhaus materials and topological insulators, making Rashba spin -momentum locking a promising technological solution for spin-orbit logic devices. However, despite the rapid progress that leads to high spin -charge interconversion efficiency at cryogenic temperatures, the room -temperature efficiency needed for technological applications is still low. This paper presents our understanding on the challenges and opportunities in searching for Rashba-Dresselhaus materials for efficient spin -charge interconversion at room temperature by focusing on materials properties such as Rashba coefficients, momentum relaxation times, spinmomentum locking relations and electrical conductivities.