University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, announces research demonstrating that the chemical element ruthenium (Ru) is the fourth single element with unique magnetic properties at room temperature. The discovery could be used to improve sensors and other devices using magnetic materials, particularly computer memory and logic products.
Although ferromagnetism has been used for centuries, only three elements on the periodic table have been found to be ferromagnetic at room temperature—iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni). The rare earth element gadolinium (Gd) misses by only 8 degrees Celsius.
The new study demonstrates that Ru can be the fourth single element ferromagnetic material by using ultra-thin films to force the ferromagnetic phase.
The details of their work are published in the most recent issue of Nature Communications. The lead author is recent University of Minnesota Ph.D. Patrick Quarterman, a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
