Scientists at Florida State university have developed a new crystalline material with unusual magnetic behavior. This finding could lead to advancements in data storage and future quantum devices.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, shows that combining two materials with similar chemistry but different crystal structures can create a new structure with unique magnetic properties.Neither of the original materials exhibits these properties on their own.
How Atomic Spins Create Magnetism
Magnetism starts at the atomic level. Atoms in magnetic materials act like tiny bar magnets due to a property called atomic spin – imagine a small arrow indicating the direction of the atom’s magnetic field.
When many of these atomic spins align,either in the same or opposite directions,they create the magnetic forces we use in technologies like computers and smartphones. This orderly alignment is typical of customary magnets.
However,the FSU team’s new material behaves differently.Instead of aligning neatly, the atomic spins form complex, repeating swirl patterns. These patterns,called spin textures,significantly impact how the material responds to magnetic fields.
Creating Magnetic Swirls Through Structural Frustration
Researchers intentionally combined two compounds that were chemically similar but structurally mismatched to create these effects. Each compound has a different crystal symmetry, meaning their atoms are arranged in incompatible ways.
When these structures combine, neither can fully dominate, creating what scientists call structural “frustration.” The system can’t settle into a simple, stable pattern.
“We thoght this structural frustration might translate into magnetic frustration,” said Michael Shatruk, a professor in the FSU department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “If the structures compete, maybe the spins will twist. We wanted to find structures that were chemically close but had different symmetries.”
The team combined a compound of manganese,cobalt,and germanium with one of manganese,cobalt,and arsenic. Germanium and arsenic are neighbors on the periodic table,making the compounds chemically similar but structurally distinct.
After the mixture cooled and crystallized, researchers confirmed the presence of the swirling magnetic patterns they expected. These cycloidal spin arrangements are known as skyrmion-like spin textures, a major focus of current research.
To map the magnetic structure, the team used single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements at the TOPAZ instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source, a U.S. Department of Energy office of Science user facility at oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Why These Magnetic Patterns Matter
Materials with skyrmion-like spin textures offer several potential technological benefits. They could be used in next-generation hard drives that store more data in the same space.
Skyrmions can also be moved with very little energy, perhaps reducing power consumption in electronic devices. Even small efficiency gains can lead to significant savings in large computing systems.
The research could also aid in developing fault-tolerant quantum computers, which are designed to protect quantum information and operate reliably despite errors.
“With single-crystal neutron diffraction data from TOPAZ and new data-reduction and machine-learning tools, we can now solve very complex magnetic structures with greater confidence,” said Xiaoping Wang, a distinguished neutron scattering scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “This allows us to move beyond finding unusual spin textures to intentionally designing and optimizing them for future technologies.”
Designing Materials Instead of Searching for them
Previous skyrmion research ofen involved testing existing materials to see if they exhibited the desired patterns.
This study took a different approach, designing a new material from scratch, using structural frustration to create specific magnetic behavior.
“It’s chemical thinking – considering how the balance between structures affects them and how that relates to atomic spins,” shatruk said.
Understanding these patterns could eventually allow scientists to predict where complex spin textures will form before even creating the material.
“The goal is to predict where these textures will appear,” said Ian Campbell, a graduate student in Shatruk’s lab. “Traditionally, physicists hunt for materials with the symmetry they need and measure their properties. That limits possibilities. We’re trying to develop a predictive ability: ‘if we combine these two things, we’ll get a new material with these properties.'”
This strategy could also make future technologies more practical by expanding the range of usable materials, potentially making crystal growth easier, lowering costs, and strengthening supply chains.
Research Experience at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Campbell conducted part of the research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with support from an FSU fellowship.
“That experience was instrumental,” he said. “Being at Oak Ridge allowed me to connect with scientists and use their expertise to solve problems during the study.”
Florida State University has been a member of Oak Ridge Associated universities as 1951 and is a core university partner of the national laboratory,providing access to facilities and collaboration opportunities.
Collaboration and funding
Additional authors include YiXu Wang, Zachary P.Tener, judith K.Clark, and Jacnel Graterol from FSU; Andrei Rogalev and Fabrice Wilhelm from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility; Hu Zhang and Yi Long from the University of Science and Technology Beijing; Richard Dronskowski from RWTH Aachen university; and Xiaoping Wang from Oak ridge National Laboratory.
The research was supported by the National Science foundation and conducted at Florida State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
