Magnetic lattice material promises dramatic increase in electronic device battery life

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A new magnetic lattice material developed by researchers at the University of Missouri could be used to increase the battery life of electronic devices by more than a hundred times, it is claimed.

Prof Deepak Singh, who headed up the group responsible, said that the material uses a unique “honeycomb” lattice that exhibits distinctive electronic properties.

Magnetic lattice material

L: atomic force micrograph, exhibiting honeycomb structure pattern behind a magnetic device. R: electrical data reveals diode-type behavior of current flowing in one direction. Credit: Deepak Singh

Singh’s team developed a two-dimensional, nanostructured material created by depositing a magnetic alloy, or permalloy, on the honeycomb structured template of a silicon surface. The new material conducts unidirectional current, or currents that only flow one way. The material also has significantly less dissipative power compared to a semiconducting diode, which is normally included in electronic devices.

The diode paves the way for new magnetic transistors and amplifiers that dissipate very little power, thus increasing the efficiency of the power source. This could mean that designers could increase the life of batteries by more than a hundred-fold. Less dissipative power in computer processors could also reduce the heat generated in laptop or desktop CPUs.

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