Plastic Malleable Magnetic Memory Gadget Introduced by the Researchers

Researchers have efficaciously implanted a robust magnetic memory chip on an adjustable plastic material. This flexible chip hails a breakthrough in the bendable electronics revolution and brings scientists a step forward towards making wearable, flexible electronics, which is a reality in the upcoming future.

It appears like a tiny piece of transparent film with minute engravings on it and is malleable enough to be moulded into a tube. Such piece of ‘intelligent’ plastic establishes excellent performance regarding information storage and handing out capabilities. This new invention, introduced by the scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS), showers a breakthrough in the malleable electrical revolution and brings scientists a step closer towards making wearable and flexible electronics a truth shortly.

The technological advancement is accomplished in association with scientists from Yonsei University, Singapore’s Institute of Engineering and Materials Research and Ghent University. The team of scientists has successfully integrated a robust magnetic chip on a malleable plastic material, and this flexible memory chip will be a crucial component for the development and designs of lightweight and flexible gadgets. Such gadgets have excellent applications like healthcare electronics, automotive, robotics, industrial motor control, energy management and industrial power, like avionics and military systems.

The research group was headed by Associate Professor Yang Hyunsoo belonging to the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering at the NUS Faculty of Engineering. The subject of flexible electronics has become important in the research industry, over the years. Specifically speaking, the malleable magnetic memory gadgets have captured huge volume of attention as they need the basic component necessary for storage and processing of data in biomedical gadgets and wearable devices. Such gadgets require efficacies like storage of information, wireless communication and processing of codes.

As per the results of this research, the new gadget functions on magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) that utilizes magnetic tunnel based on magnesium oxide for storing data. Such gadget unsurpassed traditionally used random access memory PC chips in distinct aspects, like the potential to capture data after the power supply is cut off, reduced consumption of power and excellent processing speed.

Accentuating the importance of the entire breakthrough process, Associate Professor Yang says, “Flexible electronics will be the basis of the upcoming future devices and all novel electrical devices must be compatible with such electrical components. Also, we are the very first research group to create and introduce magnetic memory on a malleable surface, and this important milestone offered us the impetus to further improve the overall performance of adjustable memory gadgets. It is undoubtedly a fantastic contribution to the revolutionary world of flexible electronics.”

The entire team and Associate Professor Yang has recently agreed to the partnership of South Korean and United States technology team. At present, the group is conducting experiments to enhance the magneto-resistance of the gadget by smoothing out the level of strain in the magnetic structure, and they also intend to apply such technique to various other types of electrical gadgets. The team also reveals its interest to work with big industry partners to identify other applications of this new technology.