Graphene is not magnetic — a shortcoming that has stunted its usefulness in spintronics, an emerging field that could rewrite the rules of electronics, leading to more powerful semiconductors and computers. Researchers report an advancement to overcome this obstacle. They describe pairing a magnet with graphene, and inducing what they call ‘artificial magnetic texture’ in the nonmagnetic wonder material.

It is not, however, magnetic — a shortcoming that has stunted its usefulness in spintronics, an emerging field that scientists say could eventually rewrite the rules of electronics, leading to more powerful semiconductors, computers and other devices.

Now, an international research team led by the University at Buffalo is reporting an advancement that could help overcome this obstacle.

In a study published today in the journal Physical Review Letters, researchers describe how they paired a magnet with graphene, and induced what they describe as «artificial magnetic texture» in the nonmagnetic wonder material.

«Independent of each other, graphene and spintronics each possess incredible potential to fundamentally change many aspects of business and society. But if you can blend the two together, the synergistic effects are likely to be something this world hasn’t yet seen,» says lead author Nargess Arabchigavkani, who performed the research as a PhD candidate at UB and is now a postdoctoral research associate at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Additional authors represent UB, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Thailand, Chiba University in Japan, University of Science and Technology of China, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Lincoln, and Uppsala University in Sweden.

Story Source: Materials provided by University at Buffalo. Original written by Cory Nealon. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.