MagnOxy · Magneto-ionic devices based on oxygen-ion solid state intercalation

Magneto-ionic devices based on oxygen-ion solid state intercalation

Artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies are transforming society, but their rapid growth is also driving a sharp increase in energy consumption. A major reason is that today’s computers are built around the “von Neumann” architecture, where information must constantly move between separate memory and processing units. This data movement is slow and energy-intensive and limits the sustainability of advanced computing. Developing new hardware concepts that reduce energy consumption while maintaining performance is therefore a key technological and societal challenge. The MagnOxy project addressed this challenge by exploring new materials and device concepts for energy-efficient, non-volatile memory and in-memory computing. The core idea was to control magnetic and electronic properties in oxide thin films using voltage-driven oxygen ion motion. Instead of switching states with electric currents, which dissipate significant power, MagnOxy uses small electrical voltages to reversibly move oxygen ions in solid materials. This controlled motion modifies the atomic structure and, in turn, the functional properties of the material. Such magneto-ionic control offers a promising route to ultra-low-power devices that retain information without standby energy. To achieve this vision, MagnOxy followed a device-oriented pathway combining solid-state ionics, electrochemistry, magnetism and micro- and nanofabrication. The project aimed to establish solid-state platforms capable of controlling oxygen content in oxide thin films and directly correlating these changes with magnetic and functional properties. It further aimed to accelerate ionic switching and expand device functionalities by engineering ionic transport at the nanoscale. Finally, it sought to demonstrate scalability and technological relevance by adopting fabrication processes and substrates compatible with industrial microelectronics, including large-area deposition and device miniaturization. By creating and validating oxide-based platforms in which oxygen ions can be precisely inserted and removed under voltage, MagnOxy contributes to the development of future memory and computing technologies that are faster, more efficient and more sustainable. In the longer term, these concepts are relevant for European priorities on energy-efficient digital technologies, supporting a pathway toward greener artificial intelligence hardware and advanced computing systems with reduced environmental footprint.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз