AMSwitch brings together a diverse team of experts in materials science, nanoscale device fabrication, electrical engineering, quantum theory, synchrotron characterization, and quantum magnetometry. This close collaboration ensures fast progress from fundamental discoveries to technological applications, positioning AMSwitch to drive breakthroughs in next‑generation logic technologies.
Coordinator
Chalmers University of Technology
AMSwitch work at Chalmers will be done within the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience has gathered competence and talent to form a unique research environment in the areas of nano- and quantum electronics, photonics, bio- and nano systems. Today we are a strong contributor to industrial growth and technical and social development. Our cross-disciplinary strategy gives interesting collaborations with Swedish and international partners within academy, industry and society, and is a driving force for innovations, results and breakthroughs. At the Quantum Device Physics Laboratory (QDP), researchers exploit the charge, spin, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom in materials that we design and produce, to explore fundamental questions in condensed matter physics and to develop new concepts in device physics.
The research led by Saroj Dash, coordinator of AMSwitch, aims for future generation of electronics that could become non-volatile, versatile, fast and capable of simultaneous data storage and processing; all with less energy consumption.
Roll in the Project
Chalmers coordinates AMSwitch and ensures that the project is implemented according to its work plan.
partner
National Center for Research “Demokritos”
Founded in July 1961 as a Research Centre for Nuclear Research, Demokritos is today the largest multidisciplinary Research Centre of Greece with approximately 180 Researchers in tenured and tenure-track positions and over 500 Research Personnel working in projects funded mainly by grants from State Funds, the European Union and Private Industries.
INN – Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
The Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN) is one of the leading research institutes in Greece with cutting edge activities very much aligned with most of the Horizon Europe R&D&I priorities and Europe’s Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), such as Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, Micro & Nanoelectronics, Nanobiotechnology, and Photonics. The skilled human capital and creative capacity of the institute supported by a- unique in Greece- collective infrastructure provide a distinctive ecosystem for fostering and promoting world-class basic and applied research. Strong ties with the industry and numerous SMEs further assist the institute’s effort to transform the knowledge generated into innovations and to transfer them to the market.
The expertise of the INN scientific personnel covers a wide range of disciplines involved in the development of materials, devices and systems as well as in the study of related physicochemical processes. More specifically it includes synthesis and growth of molecules and materials, device design, fabrication and evaluation, structural, physicochemical and analytical characterization as well as theory and simulation on multiscale modeling, non-linear systems and molecular thermodynamics.
Epitaxy and Surface Science Lab (ESSL)
Lab head: Dr. Athanasios Dimoulas
The ESSL team of INN will be involved in the AMSwitch project. The ESSL lab started at INN as an epitaxy team focused on the growth and characterization of epitaxial semiconductors and 2D Materials. Over time it evolved and capitalizing upon the expertise and the unique state-of-the-art facilities (inlc. MBE, ARPES, STM, RHEED, XPS/UPS, MOKE, 2D materials precision transfer stage, electrical evaluation set up) covering growth and surface analytic techniques is currently exploring MBE approaches for the growth of 2D magnetic materials and altermagnets. The team consisting of 10 members (the PI, post docs and PhD students), over the years, has conducted innovative research which have reflected upon the high quality of publications, the securing of competitive grants and the winning of a highly prestigious ERC AdvGrant in the past.
The ESSL lab is currently conducting research in three different areas:
- Materials and devices for the next generation AI-powered chips READ MORE
- Novel 2D materials beyond metal dichalcogenides READ MORE
- Altermagnet materials and devices READ MORE
Role in the Project
The NCSRD/ESSL lab will support the AMSwitch efforts by providing optimized epitaxial MnTe altermagnet materials to the partners for further characterization and for the implementation of the innovative device technologies promised in the project. In parallel, the lab will provide in-situ characterization and ex-situ MOKE and electrical validation of the grown materials
partner
Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia
The Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) is a non-profit international research institute located near Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ICN2 is a flagship centre within the CERCA network, created and supported by the Government of Catalonia to raise Catalan science to the highest international level. Its patrons are the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). ICN2 conducts frontier basic and applied research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, with core activities spanning knowledge generation, materials and device development, technology transfer and public outreach. Its expertise lies at the nanoscale, where new properties and interactions are explored for applications in ICT, health, energy and the environment. The institute promotes interdisciplinary research, advanced training, societal engagement and collaboration with local and international industry. ICN2 currently hosts around 230 staff members from more than 30 countries, including approximately 200 researchers. In condensed matter physics, ICN2 brings together about 50 experimental researchers working across areas such as thermal management, photovoltaics, spintronics and energy applications, in addition to the theoretical groups involved in the topic. ICN2’s scientific excellence is recognised with the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation, Spain’s most prestigious distinction for research centres.
Roll in the Project
ICN2 will contribute expertise in material growth, nanodevice engineering and electrical transport characterisation. The team will develop high-quality altermagnetic thin films, implement them in field-effect device architectures and evaluate their magnetotransport response, supported by ICN2’s advanced growth, nanofabrication and (low-temperature) measurement infrastructure.
partner
Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung Dresden
The Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW Dresden) investigates fundamental physical and chemical properties of novel materials and explores their potential for future technologies. More than 500 physicists, chemists, materials scientists and engineers from over 35 countries conduct research at the institute. The IFW Dresden is a legally independent, non-university research institution and a member of the Leibniz Association. AMSwitch work at the IFW will be done at the Institute for Theoretical Solid State Physics (ITF) headed by Prof. Dr. Jeroen van den Brink. The scope of topics studied at ITF includes first-principles calculations of materials with electronic correlations, exotic magnetism, and nontrivial topology.
Roll in the Project
Within the AMSwitch consortium, the IFW Dresden focuses on theoretical understanding and predictive modeling of altermagnetic materials. First-principles calculations are used to explain the observed behavior and to guide experimental efforts.
partner
ALBA Synchrotron
ALBA laboratory is the largest scientific infrastructure in Spain, a 3rd-generation Synchrotron light facility located in the UAB-CIE Campus of International Excellence (Cerdanyola, Barcelona), and the newest source in the Mediterranean area. It is a complex of electron accelerators designed to produce synchrotron light, with world-class facilities for synchrotron-based X-ray experiments that allow the visualization of the atomic structure of matter, as well as the study of its properties. The 3 GeV electron beam energy at ALBA is achieved by combining an LInear Acelerator (LINAC), a low-emittance, full- energy BOOSTER acelerator and a STORAGE RING. ALBA currently has 12 operational state-of-the-art beamlines, covering both soft and hard X-rays, mainly devoted to biosciences and condensed matter science (magnetic and electronic properties, nanoscience, materials science).
Roll in the Project
The ALBA team involved in AMSwitch project comprises leading scientists of ALBA’s Electronic and Magnetic Structure of Matter section. This research team and ALBA facility overall, provides the consortium with unique expertise and tools for operando advanced synchrotron characterisation of AMSwitch materials and devices. More concretely, this includes world-class facilities for spectroscopic investigation of element resolved magnetic properties (XAS, XMCD), electronic structure determination by synchrotron ARPES, and operando nanoscale x-ray imaging with ultra-fast time resolution (Photoemission electron microscopy) or under high applied magnetic fields and low temperatures (coherent imaging by x-ray holography or diffraction) all customized and leveraged for altermagnetic and van der Waals materials. Furthermore, more recently, ALBA also hosts a state-of-the-art Transmission electron microscopy joint center (JEMCA) enhancing further the capabilities for correlative investigations in advanced materials such as the altermagnetic materials at the core of the project.
The advanced synchrotron characterization supported and contributed by the ALBA team will enable a deeper understanding of key aspects of the electronic and magnetic properties of AMSwitch materials either separately, in structures or in-operation, a know-how of utmost relevance for conceiving and engineering the optimized altermagnetic devices that constitute the final goal of the AMSwitch project.
partner
QZABRE
QZabre is an ETH Spinoff founded in 2018 to commercialize scanning diamond magnetometry. Starting with tips in 2018 to offering turnkey NV microscopes in 2021, QZabre has continued to expand to low temperature microscopes in collaboration with attocube and quantum educational kits. Bootstrapped, QZabre is now a 20 people company that is still fully owned by the founding team. We believe that scanning NV microscopy is only at the beginning and actively pursue our goal of making it as easy and as widespread as atomic force microscopy.
Roll in the Project
Our role in the AMSwitch is magnetic characterizing materials and devices for the project at the nanometer scale, not only at room temperature, but also at intermediate temperatures below 200 K in a fast turnaround system.