By applying the magnetic properties of iron nanodots to complex materials, a research team has overcome an obstacle to getting ultra-thin or highly strained films to perform on par with their bulk counterparts. If the researchers are indeed successful, this work sets the stage for these exotic materials to be used in a wide range of fascinating and potentially technologically revolutionary applications, said Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Zac Ward, lead author of a paper published in Physical Review Letters. The problem lies in the fact that at low dimensions or when the material is under strain it loses the characteristics that make it valuable for use in nano-scale electronics. "What we discovered is a way to activate these materials using the magnetic properties of iron nanodots to control the electron spin and tune the behavior," Ward said.
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