Researchers from France's CNRS developed a new method (based on AFM microscopy and lasers) that can measure and image the spin of very thin films at the nanoscale. Here's a nice video detailing the new development, while also giving an introduction to Spintronics:
Researchers from the University of Utah developed a new topological insulator made from bismuth metal deposited on silicon. This material may be very suitable for quantum computers and fast spintronic devices.
This new material has the largest energy gap ever predicted. It can also be used alongside silicon so this material may be relatively easy to be used alongside current semiconductor technology.
Researchers from the University of Utah have managed to control and read spin information at room temperatures. For this experiment, they used an orange OLED device.
The researchers were able to read the nuclear spins of two hydrogen isotops: a single proton and deuterium (a proton, neutron and electron). When the researchers controlled the spin, they controlled the electrical current in the device.
A team of researchers from Germany, the UK, Japan and the Czech republic developed an efficient spin-charge converter based on GaAs. This is the first time that such an efficient spin-charge converter was developed from a "common" material (comparable efficiences were only observed in converters made from platinum).
A spin-charge converter enable the transformation of electric into magnetic signals and vice versa. These converters are essential tools for efficient, simply and precise spin manipulation using electric fields. The main principle behind these converters is the so called spin-Hall effect.