Researchers develop the world's first power-free frequency tuner using nanomaterials

Date:
March 18, 2022
Source:
University of Oxford
Summary:
Phase-change nanowires could serve as the ultimate tunable frequency
synthesizers and filters for the future of IoT and 5G networks.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
In a paper published today in Nature Communications, researchers at
the University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania have found
a power-free and ultra-fast way of frequency tuning using functional
nanowires.


========================================================================== Think of an orchestra warming up before the performance. The oboe starts
to play a perfect A note at a frequency of 440 Hz while all the other instruments adjust themselves to that frequency. Telecommunications
technology relies on this very concept of matching the frequencies of transmitters and receivers. In practice, this is achieved when both ends
of the communication link tune into the same frequency channel.

In today's colossal communications networks, the ability to reliably
synthesise as many frequencies as possible and to rapidly switch from
one to another is paramount for seamless connectivity.

Researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania
have fabricated vibrating nanostrings of a chalcogenide glass (germanium telluride) that resonate at predetermined frequencies, just like guitar strings. To tune the frequency of these resonators, the researchers
switch the atomic structure of the material, which in turn changes the mechanical stiffness of the material itself.

This differs from existing approaches that apply mechanical stress on
the nanostrings similar to tuning a guitar using the tuning pegs. This
directly translates into higher power consumption because the pegs are
not permanent and require a voltage to hold the tension.

Utku Emre Ali, at the University of Oxford who completed the research
as part of his doctoral work said: 'By changing how atoms bond with
each other in these glasses, we are able to change the Young's modulus
within a few nanoseconds. Young's modulus is a measure of stiffness,
and it directly affects the frequency at which the nanostrings vibrate.'


========================================================================== Professor Ritesh Agarwal, School of Engineering and Applied Science,
University of Pennsylvania who collaborated on the study first
discovered a unique mechanism that changed the atomic structure of novel nanomaterials back in 2012.

'The idea that our fundamental work could have consequences in such
an interesting demonstration more than 10 years down the line is
humbling. It's fascinating to see how this concept extends to mechanical properties and how well it works,' said Professor Agarwal.

Professor Harish Bhaskaran, Department of Materials, University of
Oxford who led the work said: 'This study creates a new framework that
uses functional materials whose fundamental mechanical property can be
changed using an electrical pulse. This is exciting and our hope is that
it inspires further development of new materials that are optimized for
such applications.' The engineers further estimate that their approach
could operate a million times more efficiently than commercial frequency synthesisers while offering 10-100 times faster tuning. Although improving
the cyclability rates and the readout techniques is a necessity for commercialisation, these initial results might mean higher data rates
with longer-lasting batteries in the future.

Video: https://youtu.be/z69YosvkJjM

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Oxford. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Utku Emre Ali, Gaurav Modi, Ritesh Agarwal, Harish
Bhaskaran. Real-time
nanomechanical property modulation as a framework for tunable NEMS.

Nature Communications, 2022; 13 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29117-7 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220318131634.htm

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