Prelims: Sci & tech (scientific concepts), Magnetoelectric multiferroics, MnBi2S4
Mains: General Studies III- Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life
Why in the News ?
Scientists uncover unique properties in a multiferroic material potential for energy-efficient data storage.
Source: PIB
Key Facts 🗝️
- Researchers have identified a unique mechanism of electric polarization via magnetic ordering in a novel mineral named “MnBi2S4”
- It can be useful for energy efficient data storage.
About:
- Magnetoelectric Multiferroics :
- Special class of materials popular among the research fraternity for their rarity and unique properties.
- Exhibit both magnetism and ferroelectricity simultaneously.
- Application: For advanced technology applications like spintronics, electronic memory devices, and other electronic components like actuators and switches.
- MnBi2S4 :
- It is also known as mineral graţianite.
- It has distinct magnetic structures in the material :
- spin density wave,
- cycloidal spin structure
- helical spin structure
- It is also known to be centrosymmetric, undergoes magnetic ordering at low temperatures (27, 23, and 21.5 Kelvins).
- Its important in the strong coupling between magnetism and electric polarization.
- It is driven by magnetic frustration, represents a breakthrough in magnetoelectric coupling.
- Specifically, if the material possesses the ability to exhibit the same phenomena at room temperature, it could pave the way for energy-efficient manipulation of spin using small electric fields.
- This could revolutionize data storage by reducing energy consumption during writing processes.
- These findings can be helpful for the development of four-state logic memory system, providing additional degrees of freedom for device performance compared to the current binary logic systems.
