Advanced Thin‑Film Materials and Applications
Our insulating ferromagnetic thin‑film materials form the foundation of a disruptive, resettable direct‑patterning technology. These films combine high crystalline quality, tunable magnetic and electrical properties, and compatibility with major semiconductor and photonic platforms.
A New Class of Functional Thin Films
We do not rely on traditional prototype structures or brute‑force element substitution. Instead, our materials are designed from first principles to achieve performance and sustainability simultaneously. Magnetization and conductivity can be tuned during growth, enabling device‑specific optimization without compromising lattice matching or crystalline quality.
Our films grow exceptionally well on oxidized silicon, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, sapphire, and other optically transparent single crystals. They support multilayer device fabrication without detrimental interfaces, and their properties can be continuously adjusted during deposition.
Even at thicknesses of only a few nanometers, the magnetization exceeds that of Y3Fe5O12 (YIG). We have also developed ferromagnetic insulators from common non‑magnetic cations. These films remain magnetic at elevated temperatures, are compatible with high‑k dielectrics, and are transparent to visible light — enabling magneto‑optical and photonic applications.
Key Advantages
- Ferromagnetic insulators functional up to and above 400 K
- Low‑loss magnetic behavior due to the absence of eddy currents
- RoHS‑compliant: no rare earths, no iron, no osmium, no heavy metals
- No ultra-pure water (UPW)
- Continuously tunable magnetization and resistivity during growth
- Excellent lattice matching for multilayer and 3D device architectures
- Compatible with high‑frequency and high‑temperature operation
Applications Across Industries
Our materials and processing technologies support a wide range of next‑generation devices:
- RF, Microwave, 5G/6G: filters, phase shifters, waveguides, antennas, tunable components
- Spintronics & All‑Spin‑Logic (ASL): multilayer structures, magnetic logic, low‑power computing
- Magneto‑optical & Photonic Devices: modulators, isolators, transparent magnetic layers for PICs
- Medical Technology: magnetic sensors, imaging components, compact diagnostic devices
- IoT & Embedded Systems: low‑power, miniaturized components for distributed electronics
- THz Applications: antiferromagnetic resonance in engineered multilayers
Sustainable and Technologically Viable
Our thin‑film compounds are designed with sustainability in mind. By adjusting growth parameters in situ, the number of processing steps can be significantly reduced without compromising crystalline quality. This reduces energy consumption, water usage, and chemical waste.
We provide both highly magnetized ferromagnetic insulators and ferromagnetic conductors with excellent lattice matching. These materials enable tunable RF devices, multilayer spintronic structures, and magneto‑optical components — all without the environmental burden of rare‑earth or iron‑based compounds.
Modeling and Experimental Validation
With device dimensions below tens of nanometers, standard modeling techniques are insufficient. We have extensive experience in structural modeling and continuously develop our own computational tools to meet new technical challenges. Our work integrates experimental validation with advanced simulations to accelerate materials and device development.