| Jul 19, 2022 |
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(Nanowerk News) A research group has successfully synthesized a ‘half-metal’ material, achieving a rare feat in the pursuit of zero magnetization (Scientific Reports, “A new type of half‑metallic fully compensated ferrimagnet”).
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Half-metals can dramatically enhance the performance of electronic devices. This is due to their 100% spin-polarization, which allows them to behave as metals in one spin direction, and insulators/semiconductors in the other.
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| Spin arrangement of magnetic moments in ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and ferrimagnetic materials. (Image: Rie Umetsu)
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Most successful instances of half-metals are ferromagnetic, meaning their spin arrangement is aligned.
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Antiferromagnetic-like half metals, where the spin aligns in an antiparallel nature, are desirable since no magnetic stray field can disturb it – even if integrated at high density.
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To date, only two cases of antiferromagnetic-like half-metals have been reported.
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Following a development guideline, the research group created a compound consisting of iron, chromium, and sulfur. The new material completely loses its magnetization at low temperatures.
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“The developed half-metal material possesses excellent properties, and the material development guidelines played a pivotal role in our success,” said Satoshi Semboshi, paper co-author and professor at Tohoku University’s Institute for Materials Research (IMR).
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| The electronic states and electric charge flow of general ferromagnets and half-metal ferromagnets. (Image: Rie Umetsu)
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Colleague and fellow co-author Rie Umetsu added, “We believe the results will improve the efficiency of future materials research and accelerate the innovation of electronic devices.”
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