Beyond silicon: New semiconductor moves spintronics toward reality

A new semiconductor compound is bringing fresh momentum to the field of spintronics, an emerging breed of computing device that may lead to smaller, faster, less power-hungry electronics.

Created from a unique low-symmetry crystal structure, the compound is the first to build spintronic properties into a material that's stable at room temperature and easily tailored to a variety of applications. It could eventually be used as the base material for spintronic processors and other devices, much like silicon is the base for electronic computing devices.