Coupled multi-layer magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The coercive voltage of magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic layers used in beyond CMOS devices is high, limiting their potential for ultra-low power supply voltages and scaling, and leakage current becomes a concern at reduced thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
Multi-layer structures comprising soft and hard magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, or ferromagnetic layers with exchange coupling, reducing the coercive voltage through tilting of electrical polarization in soft layers and transferring this effect to hard layers, maintaining thickness and thermal energy to control leakage current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the thickness of magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, or ferromagnetic layers is reduced to lower coercive voltage, then the coercive voltage decreases, but leakage current increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite multi-layer structures combining soft and hard magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, or ferromagnetic layers. The soft layers provide low coercive voltage for easy switching, while the hard layers provide high coercive voltage for stability and low leakage current. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the single-layer structure into multiple alternating soft and hard layers. Each layer type performs a specific function: soft layers enable low-voltage switching through polarization tilting, while hard layers maintain thermal energy barriers to suppress leakage current. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's properties.
2Length of moving object
If the thickness of magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, or ferromagnetic layers is reduced to enable scaling, then device scaling is achieved, but coercive voltage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite multi-layer structures where soft layers with lower coercive voltage enable scaling to reduced thicknesses, while hard layers with higher coercive voltage maintain the overall device performance. The exchange coupling between layers allows the thin soft layers to be stabilized by the thicker hard layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different coercive voltage characteristics to different regions (layers) of the structure. Soft layers are designed with lower coercive voltage for switching functionality, while hard layers are designed with higher coercive voltage for stability, allowing the overall device to achieve both scaling and appropriate voltage characteristics.
3Use of energy by moving object
If soft layers with lower coercive voltage are used to reduce switching voltage, then power consumption decreases, but thermal energy to control leakage current is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines soft layers (low coercive voltage for low power consumption) with hard layers (high coercive voltage for high thermal energy barrier). The hard layers provide the necessary thermal stability to control leakage current, while the soft layers enable low-power switching through exchange coupling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of soft and hard layers into a unified multi-layer structure where both layer types work together through exchange coupling. The soft layers contribute low-power switching capability, while the hard layers contribute thermal stability, and their combined effect achieves both low power consumption and high reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables devices with low coercive voltages, low power consumption, and higher switching frequencies, reducing device, circuit, and system latency with additional power savings.
Implementation Method 1
the tilting of the electrical polarization of the soft magnetoelectric layer affects the magnetization of the soft magnetoelectric layer
Implementation Method 2
the magnetization of the hard magnetoelectric layer switches more easily as the magnetization of the soft magnetoelectric layer begins to switch
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-layer magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic structures comprising one or more soft layers and one or more hard layers have a lower coercive voltage than magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic structures comprising a single layer. The lower coercive voltage of the overall multi-layer structure is due to exchange coupling between the soft and hard layers. The soft layer has a coercive voltage that is lower than the coercive voltage of the hard layer and magnetic exchange coupling between the soft and hard layers during switching makes it easier for the hard layer to switch polarization or magnetization states. The multi-layer magnetoelectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic structures can be used in a variety of spintronic devices, such as capacitors, magnetoelectric spin-orbit (MESO) devices, magnetoelectric magnetic tunneling junctions (MEMTJs), and ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs).