Stimuli-Responsive Multiferroic Metamaterials: Alleviating Power Demands in Electronics
Abstract
The goal of this 1-year seedling project is to address two priority research directions of DOD basic research needs (Pasteur#s Science): (1) Additive manufacturing of stimuli-responsive multiferroic metamaterials, matching their crystal periodicity with the critical length scales associated with photon, electron, spin, and phonon interactions. This involves unraveling the intricate interplay between charge-transfer and cohesive van der Waals (vdW) forces, crucial factors in the stimuli-responsiveness of organic ferroelectric ImClO4 and magnetic vanadium hexacyanochromate building blocks; and (2) Explore light-matter interactions and magneto-ion-electric coupling of multiferroic metamaterials designed for energy-efficient and tunable electromagnetic devices. This exploration aims to usher in innovative designs for multiferroic electronics, presenting an extraordinarily low driving field. The ability of these materials to convert between different forms of energy (Light, mechanical, magnetic, electric and chemical) can also be harnessed to self-power multiferroic devices.The 1-year seedling program is designed to address two knowledge gaps in the realm of multiferroics: 1) To reconcile the dissimilarity between the ferroelectric perovskite and magnetic spinel structures, high-temperature and reactiveenvironment growth is necessary for inorganic multiferroic composites. However, this processing poses a challenge in incorporating flexibility into low-power multiferroic electronics. Organic multiferroic metamaterials described here, consisting of organic ferroelectrics ImClO4 (Tc=373K) and vanadium hexacyanochromate (Tc=360K) magnets with both Tc above room temperature, are grown in solution at room temperature, presenting the capability of self-assembly directed additive manufacturing; and 2) Unlike their inorganic counterparts, local coordination and weak vdW interactions, alongside expansive lattice and vacancy network structures between organic ferroelectric and magnetic building blocks provide a promising pathway toward stimuli-tailored ferroic orders by using an extraordinarily low driving field. Organic multiferroic metamaterials is dedicated to thoroughly exploring stimuli-responsive local atomic structural environments and domain dynamics, aiming to not only novel multifunctional materials showcasing light-matter interactions, chemical ion-mediated magnetoelectric coupling, and electromagnetic response but also to establish a groundbreaking multiferroic electronic paradigm capable of converting between various forms of energy (light, mechanical, magnetic, electric, and chemical). The low-power aspect of stimuli-controlled multiferroic metamaterials is particularly advantageous in remote sensing, wearable devices, andInternet of Things (IoT) applications, where prolonged battery life or energy harvesting from the environment is crucial. The connection between the escalating energy demands driven by power-hungry electronics and the rising energy consumption is directly tied tohigh-power-driven domain switching and/or phase transition in conventional multiferroics. In the context of addressing energy challenges, multiferroic metamaterials represent an advanced class of materials engineered to exhibit unique electromagnetic properties, particularly the coupling across different energy domains, including magnetic, electric, mechanical, thermal, and optical fields, offering a distinctive advantage from low-power to self-powered operation. Such unique capability of multiferroic metamaterials align with the diverse energy requirements in electronic devices and military/USMC mobile applications, making them a promising candidate for mitigating energy-related burdens.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412386
Entities
People
- Shenqiang Ren
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Maryland