{"id":273998,"date":"2025-07-19T06:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273998\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T06:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:12:08","slug":"spin-currents-control-device-magnetization-using-low-cost-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273998\/","title":{"rendered":"Spin currents control device magnetization using low-cost materials"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Researchers<\/p>\n

This low-symmetry material produces powerful spin-orbit torque (SOT)\u2014a key mechanism for manipulating magnetism in next-generation memory and logic technologies. Credit: The Nano Magnetism and Quantum Spintronics Lab\/University of Minnesota Twin Cities<\/p>\n

Research from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities gives new insight into a material that could make computer memory faster and more energy-efficient.<\/p>\n

The study was recently published<\/a> in Advanced Materials, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The researchers also have a patent on the technology.<\/p>\n

As technology continues to grow, so does the demand for emerging memory technology. Researchers are looking for alternatives and complements to existing memory solutions that can perform at high levels with low energy consumption to increase the functionality of everyday technology.<\/p>\n

In this new research, the team demonstrated a more efficient way to control magnetization in tiny electronic devices using a material called Ni\u2084W\u2013a combination of nickel and tungsten. The team found that this low-symmetry material produces powerful spin-orbit torque (SOT)\u2014a key mechanism for manipulating magnetism in next-generation memory and logic technologies.<\/p>\n

“Ni\u2084W reduces power usage for writing data, potentially cutting energy use<\/a> in electronics significantly,” said Jian-Ping Wang, a senior author on the paper and a Distinguished McKnight Professor and Robert F. Hartmann Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.<\/p>\n

This technology could help reduce the electricity consumption of devices like smartphones and data centers<\/a> making future electronics both smarter and more sustainable.<\/p>\n

“Unlike conventional materials, Ni\u2084W can generate spin currents in multiple directions, enabling ‘field-free’ switching of magnetic states without the need for external magnetic fields. We observed high SOT efficiency with multi-direction in Ni\u2084W both on its own and when layered with tungsten, pointing to its strong potential for use in low-power<\/a>, high-speed spintronic devices,” said Yifei Yang, a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Wang’s group and a co-first author on the paper.<\/p>\n

Ni\u2084W is made from common metals and can be manufactured using standard industrial processes. The low-cost material makes it very attractive to industry partners and soon could be implemented into technology we use every day like smart watches, phones, and more.<\/p>\n

“We are very excited to see that our calculations confirmed the choice of the material and the SOT experimental observation,” said Seungjun Lee, a postdoctoral fellow in ECE and the co-first author on the paper.<\/p>\n

The next steps are to grow these materials into a device that is even smaller than their previous work.<\/p>\n

In addition to Wang, Yang and Lee, the ECE team included Paul Palmberg Professor Tony Low, another senior author on the paper, Yu-Chia Chen, Qi Jia, Brahmudutta Dixit, Duarte Sousa, Yihong Fan, Yu-Han Huang, Deyuan Lyu and Onri Jay Benally. This work was done with Michael Odlyzko, Javier Garcia-Barriocanal, Guichuan Yu and Greg Haugstad from the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility, along with Zach Cresswell and Shuang Liang from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.<\/p>\n

More information:<\/strong>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYifei Yang et al, Large Spin\u2010Orbit Torque with Multi\u2010Directional Spin Components in Ni4W, Advanced Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002\/adma.202416763<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Minnesota<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCitation<\/strong>:
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpin currents control device magnetization using low-cost materials (2025, July 18)
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 19 July 2025
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-07-currents-device-magnetization-materials.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
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