MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/18/2025) — Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have uncovered a promising path to make computer memory faster and far more energy-efficient through the use of a novel material, according to a recent study published in Advanced Materials. The university team has also filed a patent for this technology.

As technology evolves, the need for more efficient memory continues to grow. Scientists are actively exploring advanced materials that can support higher performance with lower energy consumption, aiming to enhance the sustainability and capability of everyday electronics.

In this new work, the research team demonstrated a more effective method to control magnetization in nanoscale electronic devices using Ni₄W, an alloy composed of nickel and tungsten. This material, which has low structural symmetry, was found to produce robust spin-orbit torque (SOT)—a critical property for next-generation memory and logic devices.

“Ni₄W reduces power usage for writing data, potentially cutting energy use in electronics significantly,”
— Jian-Ping Wang, senior author, Distinguished McKnight Professor and Robert F. Hartmann Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The discovery could help decrease electricity demand in devices such as smartphones and data centers, making consumer electronics both smarter and greener.

Spin-orbit torque holds the key to efficiency

“Unlike conventional materials, Ni₄W 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 Ni₄W both on its own and when layered with tungsten, pointing to its strong potential for use in low-power, high-speed spintronic devices.”
— Yifei Yang, Ph.D. candidate and co-first author

Ni₄W stands out not only for its performance but also for its practicality. Made from common and affordable metals, the material can be produced using standard industrial processes, making it an appealing option for commercial applications. This positions it as a strong candidate for future integration into mainstream devices such as smartwatches, mobile phones, and other electronics.

“We are very excited to see that our calculations confirmed the choice of the material and the SOT experimental observation,”
— Seungjun Lee, postdoctoral fellow and co-first author

Next, the team aims to shrink these materials into even smaller devices, improving on their previous work to meet the needs of compact, high-performance electronics.

This research involved collaboration between multiple departments at the University of Minnesota, including the Characterization Facility and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. Key contributors included Paul Palmberg Professor Tony Low (senior author), Yu-Chia Chen, Qi Jia, Brahmudutta Dixit, Duarte Sousa, Yihong Fan, Yu-Han Huang, Deyuan Lyu, and Onri Jay Benally, as well as researchers Michael Odlyzko, Javier Garcia-Barriocanal, Guichuan Yu, and Greg Haugstad.

The project received support from SMART (Spintronic Materials for Advanced InforRmation Technologies), a leading research center under the Semiconductor Research Corporation’s nCORE program, funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Additional support came from the Global Research Collaboration Logic and Memory program, the University of Minnesota Characterization Facility, and the Minnesota Nano Center.

Original Publication
Authors: Yifei Yang, Seungjun Lee, Yu‐Chia Chen, Qi Jia, Brahmdutta Dixit, Duarte Sousa, Michael Odlyzko, Javier Garcia‐Barriocanal, Guichuan Yu, Greg Haugstad, Yihong Fan, Yu‐Han Huang, Deyuan Lyu, Zach Cresswell, Shuang Liang, Onri Jay Benally, Tony Low and Jian‐Ping Wang.
Journal: Advanced Materials
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202416763
Article Title: Large Spin-Orbit Torque with Multi-Directional Spin Components in Ni4W
Article Publication Date: 15-May-2025

Original Source: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202416763