Scientists in the US have uncovered that hematite features a rare and emerging form of magnetism, which reportedly paves the way for spintronic technologies technologies that could transform data processing and storage.
The discovery, made by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), provided one of the clearest experimental evidence of altermagnetism, a newly identified third form of magnetism first proposed in 2022.
Hematite, an abundant iron oxide better known as rust, and its one of the most common minerals on Earth. It is stable beyond 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it a great fit for room-temperature spintronics without heavy cooling.
“Hematite is abundant, chemically stable and nontoxic,” Qiyang Sun, PhD, project lead and a postdoctoral researcher in ORNL, said. “By confirming its altermagnetic nature, we open a new platform for engineers to design high-speed, low-power quantum electronics using materials that are inexpensive and widely available.”
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