Volume 1 Issue 8, August 2018

A theoretical analysis of the dynamics of magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions shows that large current-induced spin–orbit torques can lead to nonlinear trochoidal motion, which results in a sharp drop in translational velocity.

Scalable electronic synapses fabricated using multilayer hexagonal boron nitride sheets can emulate both long- and short-term plasticity, with an ultralow standby power consumption of 1 fW.

A memory cell design based on two memristors and one minimum-sized transistor can nullify parasitic currents, device-to-device variations and cycle-to-cycle variations in memristive crossbar arrays.

A multifunctional stretchable electronic system, which can be used to monitor vital signs and build human–machine interfaces, can be created through the vertical stacking of highly integrated layers of soft electronics.

This Perspective argues that electronics is poised to enter a new era of scaling – hyper-scaling – driven by advances in beyond-Boltzmann transistors, embedded non-volatile memories, monolithic three-dimensional integration, and heterogeneous integration techniques.

By examining the dynamics of skyrmions and antiskyrmions using a combination of atomistic spin simulations, reduced-variable modelling and machine learning algorithms, it is shown that current-induced spin–orbit torques can lead to trochoidal motion and skyrmion–antiskyrmion pair generation.

Vertically structured electronic synapses, which exhibit both short- and long-term plasticity, can be created using layered two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride.

Device-to-device and cycle-to-cycle variations and leakage in memristor crossbar arrays can be alleviated with a memory cell design that uses the ratio of the resistances of two memristors to encode information, rather than the absolute resistance of a single memristor.

By combining strategies in material design and advanced microfabrication, three-dimensional integrated stretchable electronic devices can be created, including an eight-channel sensing system with Bluetooth communication capabilities that can be used to extract an array of signals from the human body.

The discovery of the twisted nematic effect allowed liquid crystal displays to become a practical and ubiquitous technology. Martin Schadt recounts how it came about.