Electronic devices

Researchers control quantum states with spin-polarized currents

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Researchers at ETH Zurich have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum physics by demonstrating that quantum states of single electron spins can be controlled using spin-polarized electron currents. This pioneering method holds potential for future applications in electronic circuit elements, potentially revolutionizing data storage and processing. The Spin of Electrons Electrons possess an intrinsic angular … Read more

Direct observation of polar bloch points in ferroelectric films

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A Bloch point is a singular point in a magnetic or electric field where the vectors are oriented in nearly all directions. This unique feature serves as a critical link between classical and quantum magnetism. In magnetics, Bloch points have remained elusive and have not been directly observed. Similarly, in the realm of ferroelectrics, the … Read more

Researchers discover novel antiaromatic π-stacking system for conductive liquid crystals

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In organic chemistry, π-stacking systems are supramolecular structures that arise due to the dispersion force, a type of intermolecular noncovalent interaction. They are a common occurrence in nature. The stabilized structure of DNA is a very prominent example of a π-stacking system, and so are the arrangement of amino acids in certain proteins. Interestingly, π-stacking … Read more

Heat treatment transforms amorphous alloy for transverse thermoelectric conversion

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A research team from NIMS and Nagoya University has demonstrated that an iron-based amorphous alloy, widely used as a soft magnetic material in transformers and motors, can be transformed into a “transverse” thermoelectric conversion material that converts electric and thermal currents in orthogonal directions, with just a short period of heat treatment. The study is published online … Read more

Study discovers switchable Mott insulator behavior in atomically-thin metal-organic framework

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An Australian-led study has found unusual insulating behavior in a new atomically-thin material—and the ability to switch it on and off. Materials that feature strong interactions between electrons can display unusual properties such as the ability to act as insulators even when they are expected to conduct electricity. These insulators, known as Mott insulators, occur … Read more

Researchers develop recyclable circuit boards for sustainable electronics

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A recent United Nations report found that the world generated 137 billion pounds of electronic waste in 2022, an 82% increase from 2010. Yet less than a quarter of 2022’s e-waste was recycled. While many things impede a sustainable afterlife for electronics, one is that we don’t have systems at scale to recycle the printed … Read more

Researchers develop 2D material for high-precision light control in silicon photonics

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Responding to the increasing demand for efficient, tunable optical materials capable of precise light modulation to create greater bandwidth in communication networks and advanced optical systems, a team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Photonics Research Lab (PRL) have developed a novel, two-dimensional (2D) material capable of manipulating light with exceptional precision and minimal loss. … Read more

First-principles calculations predict tunable quantum anomalous hall effect in heterostructures

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The quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) has unique advantages in topotronic applications, but realizing the QAHE with tunable magnetic and topological properties for building functional devices is still a key scientific challenge. Through first-principles calculations, researchers have predicted a candidate material that meets these requirements. The related work was recently published in the National Science Review under the title … Read more

Electrical current propels magnetic nanobubbles to record speeds, ushering in new era of spintronics

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A groundbreaking discovery by an international team of researchers, spearheaded by scientists from CNRS, has unveiled a significant breakthrough in the realm of magnetic nanobubbles, known as skyrmions. These minuscule entities have demonstrated an unprecedented ability to be propelled by electrical currents, achieving remarkable speeds of up to 900 meters per second. Skyrmions, long envisioned … Read more

New microscope sees electrons in a whole new light

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Electron spin states can now be probed at much higher resolution and more efficiently, opening new opportunities in materials analysis and data processing technologies. Researchers Koichiro Yaji and Shunsuke Tsuda at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan have developed an improved type of microscope that can visualize key aspects of electron spin states … Read more

Researchers detect first experimental evidence of quantum barkhausen noise

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Iron screws and other so-called ferromagnetic materials are made up of atoms with electrons that act like little magnets. Normally, the orientations of the magnets are aligned within one region of the material but are not aligned from one region to the next. Think of packs of tourists in Times Square pointing to different billboards … Read more

Engineers develop ultra-compact chip for low-noise microwave generation

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In a new Nature study, Columbia Engineering researchers have built a photonic chip that is able to produce high-quality, ultra-low-noise microwave signals using only a single laser. The compact device—a chip so small, it could fit on a sharp pencil point—results in the lowest microwave noise ever observed in an integrated photonics platform. The achievement … Read more

NPL and SAIT use OrbiSIMS to identify degradation mechanisms in blue OLEDs

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Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have collaborated with the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) on a new study to better understand the degradation of blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The study has been published in Nature Communications. The degradation mechanisms—whether physical, chemical or something else—that cause blue OLEDs to fail are still … Read more

New transistors offer hope for simplified chip design and lower power consumption

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The downscaling of electronic devices, such as transistors, has reached a plateau, posing challenges for semiconductor fabrication. However, a research team led by materials scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently discovered a new strategy for developing highly versatile electronics with outstanding performance using transistors made of mixed-dimensional nanowires and nanoflakes. This innovation … Read more