Multiferroic materials, which have the special ability to connect magnetism and electricity, are now one step closer to real-world applications.
While most of these materials stop working at high temperatures, scientists at Tohoku University have discovered that terbium oxide (Tb₂(MoO₄)₃) remains functional even at 160°C—far beyond the previous limit of 20°C.
This discovery could lead to more efficient electronic devices, such as low-power memory storage and advanced spintronics.
The study was published in the journal Communications Materials on December 18, 2024.
Most multiferroic materials stop working above room temperature, making them impractical for everyday electronics.
Devices naturally heat up during use, and a material that loses its properties in warm conditions would be unreliable. That’s why researchers have been searching for a high-temperature multiferroic for years.
The team at Tohoku University found that Tb₂(MoO₄)₃ keeps its unique properties even at 160°C. This means that multiferroics could finally be used in real-world technology without overheating issues.
The key to this breakthrough lies in how different physical effects interact:
- Piezoelectric effect – Electric polarization changes due to physical strain.
- Magnetoelastic effect – Magnetization changes due to physical strain.
- Magnetoelectric effect – The combination of the two, allowing electricity to control magnetism and vice versa.
By combining these effects, the researchers activated the magnetoelectric effect at high temperatures, something that was not possible before.
This breakthrough removes a major limitation of multiferroic materials, making them more practical for new types of electronics. Possible applications include:
✅ Spintronics – A futuristic technology that uses electron spin instead of charge, leading to faster and more efficient devices.
✅ Low-power memory storage – Multiferroics could help create memory devices that use far less energy than current ones.
✅ Advanced optical devices – New possibilities for light-based technologies, including next-generation LEDs and sensors.
“We have succeeded in raising the working temperature of multiferroics, enabling them to operate stably at room temperature or higher,” said Shimon Tajima, one of the researchers. “This breakthrough could lead to power-saving spintronics devices, advanced optical devices, and more.”
By making multiferroics work at higher temperatures, this discovery opens the door for a future filled with faster, smarter, and more energy-efficient electronics.
