Magneto-ionic vortices: voltage-reconfigurable swirling-spin analog-memory nanomagnets

Irena Spasojevic (), Zheng Ma, Aleix Barrera, Federica Celegato, Alessandro Magni, Sandra Ruiz-Gómez, Michael Foerster, Anna Palau, Paola Tiberto, Kristen S. Buchanan and Jordi Sort ()
Additional contact information
Irena Spasojevic: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Zheng Ma: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Aleix Barrera: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB
Federica Celegato: Advanced Materials Metrology and Life Sciences, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM)
Alessandro Magni: Advanced Materials Metrology and Life Sciences, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM)
Sandra Ruiz-Gómez: ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility
Michael Foerster: ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility
Anna Palau: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus UAB
Paola Tiberto: Advanced Materials Metrology and Life Sciences, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM)
Kristen S. Buchanan: Colorado State University
Jordi Sort: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Rapid progress in information technologies has spurred the need for innovative memory concepts, for which advanced data-processing methods and tailor-made materials are required. Here we introduce a previously unexplored nanoscale magnetic object: an analog magnetic vortex controlled by electric-field-induced ion motion, termed magneto-ionic vortex or “vortion”. This state arises from paramagnetic FeCoN through voltage gating and gradual N3– ion extraction within patterned nanodots. Unlike traditional vortex states, vortions offer comprehensive analog adjustment of key properties such as magnetization amplitude, nucleation/annihilation fields, or coercivity using voltage as an energy-efficient tuning knob. This manipulation occurs post-synthesis, obviating the need for energy-demanding methods like laser pulses or spin-torque currents. By leveraging an overlooked aspect of N3– magneto-ionics—planar ion migration within nanodots—precise control of the magnetic layer’s thickness is achieved, which enables reversible transitions among paramagnetic, single-domain, and vortion states, offering future prospects for analog computing, multi-state data storage, or brain-inspired devices.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57321-8

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