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Designing Materials for Next-generation Spintronic Devices

Jun 22, 2026
Throughout these collaborations within the intended loops, we are able to decide whether to keep, modify, or eliminate candidate materials before the next synthesis cycle. This DMREF loop shortens the theory → materials → devices → metrology → model → feedback sequence, fully aligned with the MGI mission.
Throughout these collaborations within the intended loops, we are able to decide whether to keep, modify, or eliminate candidate materials before the next synthesis cycle. This DMREF loop shortens the theory → materials → devices → metrology → model → feedback sequence, fully aligned with the MGI mission.

Our team works in a closed-loop fashion to integrate p-bit theory, high-throughput materials screening, first-principles calculations, wafer-scale combinatorial material synthesis, fast turnaround material and device characterizations, and atom-to-system modular simulations, to accelerate materials discovery and lay the foundation for a probabilistic computer.

Guided by high-throughput DFT screening, Belashchenko selected Fe₃Si and Cu₂MnAl as promising low-magnetoelastic free-layer candidates, which will be synthesized and characterized in Wang’s group after Krivorotov's FMR measurements confirm low magnetoelastic coefficients. Meanwhile, Wang fabricated wafer-scale CoMnSi MTJs with various thicknesses, annealing, and SAF matrices, while Appenzeller provided soft MTJs (sMTJs) and patterned devices for dynamics and FMR studies in Krivorotov’s group. Krivorotov quantified magnetoelastic coefficients by strain-controlled FMR and measured rapid p-bit dynamics under field/current bias, feeding data back to Upadhyaya to refine stochastic and spin-torque models. In parallel, Upadhyaya and Belashchenko initiated exploration of antiferromagnetic (AFM) layered structures, with Appenzeller, Chen, and Krivorotov providing metrology and MTJ characterization. Promising AFM stacks will graduate into the primary loop.

Authors

Zhihong Chen (Purdue University)

Additional Materials

U.S. National Science Foundation and NSF DMREF, Materials for Our Future

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Award No. 2015237. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation. This site is maintained collaboratively by principal investigators with NSF DMREF awards, independent of the NSF.