Three-dimensional nanoscale magnetic structures

Project Information

3DNANOMAG

Grant agreement ID: 101001290

DOI

10.3030/101001290

EC signature date 5 March 2021

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 603 096,00

EU contribution

€ 2 603 096,00

Coordinated by

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - 3DNANOMAG (Three-dimensional nanoscale magnetic structures)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Information technologies are expected to consume about 20-25% of electricity in the world by 2025. This makes the development of new nanoelectronic "green" devices essential. Spintronics is the area of nanolectronics that exploits not only the electron charge, but also its spin, i.e. its intrinsic angular momentum. Spintronic devices are one of the most promising technologies to overcome some of these future challenges. These devices are non-volatile (the information is retained without powering the device), compatibile with seminconductor technologies, and can be operated a large number of times without degradation. However, the same as other areas of nanoelectronics, for future spintronic devices to have a great impact, they will need to have ultra-high capacity for storage and processing, as well as very large inter-device interconnectivity, something very challenging.
In this project, we are investigating new three-dimensional spintronic devices for applications in green computing. These systems have the potential of storing, processing and transmitting data across the whole space, instead of being limited to a single plane, as it is the case in conventional planar technologies. For this ambitious objective, we are developing complex 3D nanofabrication and characterization methods which create and probe complex 3D nanomagnets. Our final goal is to create fundamental knowledge that allows to generate more robust and efficient mechanisms for applications in computing.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main results for the first half of the project are the following:
- New concept and experimental demonstration of the efficient motion of magnetic data in between neighbouring spintronic planes. This is based on a "3D magnetic nano-elevator", where data transmits vertically by exploiting progressive changes in the geometry of 3D interconnectors.
- Generation of topological magnetic fields by means of "artificial DNA magnetic nanowires". This type of topological fields could be used for quantum computing applications and for advanced sensors in biology.
- A new magneto-optical method to accurately characterise complex magnetic systems has been proposed and computationally demonstrated.
- Nanoscale imaging of unconventional spin states in multilayers and 3D nano-geometries with magnetic chiral interactions has been demonstrated.
- Tomographic measurements using X-ray techniques have been developed. This includes the determination of the optimum conditions to reduce acquisition times at large synchrotron facilities.
- The different states emerging in strongly-coupled magnetic nanowires as a function of the level of interaction in between them have been computationally mapped.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Progress beyond the state of the art:
- Efficient motion of magnetic information in 3D interconnectors using automotive effects. This has been possible thanks to new 3D printing methods with nanoscale resolution that our group is pioneering, and the usage of state-of-the-art X-ray magnetic microscopy at synchrotron facilities.
- Formation of topological magnetic fields across the whole space in double-helix DNA nanostructures. This constitutes the first work where thanks to 3D nano-patterning, such complex magnetic fields are created. This was possible thanks to our 3D nano-printing techniques, and state of the art X-ray tomograhic methods and magnetic simulations.
- New magneto-optical method for vector magnetometry by mapping the Fourier space, attractive for the advanced characterisation of complex spitronic devices.

Expected results until the end of the project:
- Creation of advanced 3D spintronic devices, exploring novel concepts for green computing in three dimensions. For this, complex multi-step nanofabrication processes will be developed.
- Control of the magnetic state in complex 3D magnetic interconnectors, probing them via a combination of magnetic microscopy, optical magnetometry and magnetoelectrical measurements.
- Imaging of complex magnetic states in chiral nanostructures, aiming to control the formation and interaction in between 3D spin textures and topological defects.
- Advanced detection of magnetic data in spintronic inteconnectors with complex 3D geometries.
- Study of the effect of nano-curvatures in 3D spintronic interconnectors.

3D magnetic interconnector

Helical DNA nanowire creating topological magnetic fields