February 2015

Researchers from the University of Michigan developed a new compound, created from a unique low-symmetry crystal structure, that is very promising for spintronics applications.

The new crystal compound is made from Iron, Bismuth and Selenium, and this creates a complex crystal that offers greater flexibility compared to current crystalline structures. The researchers says that the new compound enables them to arrange atoms in a huge number of different combinations so that they can manipulate conductivity and magnetism independently.

Researchers from Korea discovered that making a thin film of multiferroic material bismuth ferrite improved the material's electric and magnetic properties. Bismuth Ferrite works as a spintronics material at room temperature, and this film is flexible - which could lead to flexible spintronics devices.

To create the film, the researchers used bismuth ferrite nanoparticles (about 24nm in size) mixed in a polymer solution and then dried - which resulted in a flexible and slightly-stretchable film. The thin film kept its improved electric and magnetic properties even when bent into a cylinder.