A new international project with KAUST aims to produce ultrathin spin-orbit memory devices

by Francisco Paños

Since April 1, the ICN2 has become an official partner of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to work on a research program on spin-orbitronics. ICREA Professors S. Roche and S. O. Valenzuela will be involved in this project during the next three years.

Spintronics is based on the idea of using the electron spin as a state variable in electronic devices. This has opened a new field of research which has been growing over the last 30 years. Spin-orbitronics is a novel insight in spintronics that takes advantage of the spin-orbit coupling in nonmagnetic materials, opening a way to create spin devices operated without magnetic fields.

The ICN2 is participating in an international project with KAUST entitled “Next Generation UltraLow Power Spin-Orbit Memories”. It pursues harnessing spin-orbitronics effects in heterostructures involving topological insulators (Bi,Sb)2Te3 and recently discovered 2D magnetic materials (CrSe2, VSe2 etc.). The goal is to realize ultrathin van der Waals spin-orbit memory devices, as new technology paradigm for future generation of spin-based memory and spin logics compounds.

The ICN2 Groups led by ICREA Prof. Stephan Roche (Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience) and ICREA Prof. Sergio O. Valenzuela (Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices), will join efforts with CEA - SPINTEC and several research teams at KAUST led by Prof. Aurélien Manchon. The collaboration will develop within the frame of KAUST’s Competitive Research Grants (CRG) 2019 during the next three years.