Dr Samuel Yick, A/Prof Tilo Söhnel, Marco Vas and Joseph Vella (University of Auckland), Qinfen Gu (ANSTO) and A/Prof Clemens Ulrich (University of New South Wales)
Among other goals, the New Zealand Energy Strategy and Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan seek to reduce the energy usage of electronics. New technologies that make this possible have significant economic potential for both New Zealand and Australia.
This partnership of New Zealand and Australian researchers is working in the emerging field of spintronics, which takes advantage of the magnetic and electronic attributes of electrons. Skyrmions are protected spin structures that can be driven by external stimuli. These unique spin lattices can provide a platform for low energy electronics.
The researchers used the Powder X-ray diffraction (PD) beamline to investigate a low-temperature structural anomaly in the skyrmion hosting material Cu2OSeO3 upon codoping (introducing more than one metal impurity – doping – onto a semiconductor).
Although in-depth analysis is to be finalised, preliminary results indicate a systematic change to the lattice distortion corresponding to the dopant levels. This Marsden-funded research also saw students gaining further competency and expertise in running the PD instrument.
Reference:
Vás M, Ferguson AJ, Maynard-Casely HE, Ulrich C, Gilbert EP, Yick S, Söhnel T. In review. The effects of cobalt doping on the skyrmion hosting material Cu2OSeO3. http://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.23753
