'Spintronic' devices compute with the magnetic orientation of tiny nanomagnets. They could potentially be more energy efficient than conventional charge-based electronics, but only if scientists can find a way to 'switch' the magnetic bits with minimal loss of energy.

Kuntal Roy and his colleagues at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond have developed an idea for a low-energy nanomagnetic switch. It comprises a thin magnetic layer deposited on a piezoelectric material — one that deforms in the presence of charge. When small voltages are applied to the piezoelectric, it deforms and strains the thin magnetic layer, causing its magnetization to change direction and flip the bit. Such a switch could be so efficient that it could run on ambient energy harvested from the environment.

Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 063108 (2011)