Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter have made a remarkable discovery that could revolutionize the electronics sphere, such as magnetic computer memory.
They have discovered that the layered multiferroic material nickel iodide (NiI2) exhibits the strongest magnetoelectric coupling ever observed in any known material of its kind.
Magnetoelectric coupling is a unique phenomenon where changes in an electric field can influence a material’s magnetic properties, and vice versa.
“Unveiling these effects at the scale of atomically thin nickel iodide flakes was a formidable challenge, but our success presents a significant advancement in the field of multiferroics,” said Frank Gao, a postdoctoral fellow in physics at UT and co-lead author of the paper.
This finding could revolutionize the development of ultra-fast, energy-efficient devices in various fields, including quantum computing.
Unraveling the mechanism
Multiferroics are unique materials that possess both electric and magnetic orders, which are intertwined through a property called magnetoelectric coupling. This property is highly sought after for technological advancements due to its potential for faster, smaller, and more efficient devices .
The researchers found that NiI2 surpasses all known materials of its kind in terms of magnetoelectric coupling. This was achieved by exciting the material with ultrashort laser pulses and observing the resulting changes in its electric and magnetic orders.
Co-author Emil Viñas Boström from the MPSD explained that the exceptional magnetoelectric coupling in nickel iodide can be attributed to two key factors.
Boström explained that one contributing factor to the strong magnetoelectric coupling was the spin-orbit coupling, a relativistic effect observed in the iodine atoms.
“The second factor,” he continued, “is the particular form of the magnetic order in nickel iodide, known as a spin spiral or spin helix. This ordering is crucial both to initiate the ferroelectric order and for the strength of the magnetoelectric coupling.”
The implications of this discovery are immense. Nickel iodide’s extraordinary magnetoelectric coupling could revolutionize several technological domains.
A new era in electronics
“Our discovery paves the way for extremely fast and energy-efficient magnetoelectric devices, including magnetic memories,” expressed Xinyue Peng, the project’s other co-lead author, in the press release.
It could pave the way for ultra-fast, energy-efficient magnetic memory, enabling data storage and retrieval at speeds far surpassing current technologies while consuming significantly less energy.
Additionally, it could enable lightning-fast and highly reliable communication between qubits, the fundamental building blocks of quantum computers.
Furthermore, this discovery could lead to the development of highly sensitive chemical sensors, ensuring stringent quality control and drug safety in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Ground for further research
This landmark study represents a significant leap forward in the field of multiferroics, a class of materials with both electric and magnetic properties.
For decades, scientists have been fascinated by multiferroics, recognizing their potential for a wide range of applications. The concept of manipulating magnetic properties with electric fields, and vice versa, has long been a focus of intense research.
This latest breakthrough can lead to unlocking the full potential of these extraordinary materials.
The researchers are optimistic that their findings will not only inspire the discovery of other materials with similar properties but also drive the development of innovative engineering techniques to further enhance the magnetoelectric coupling in nickel iodide.
This could lead to a new era of electronics focused on unprecedented speed, efficiency, and miniaturization.
Most Popular
Comments / 0