Magneto-ionic data-security device integrated on flexible substrates

ongoing

Traditional methods of safeguarding data often fall short in today’s rapidly evolving information technology landscape. Passwords are vulnerable to hacking, and while encryption offers enhanced security, it significantly increases data processing costs and slows performance. Storing secret keys in battery-backed memory is also inefficient in terms of energy consumption. The advent of physical unclonable functions (PUFs), which create unique device fingerprints based on random physical properties, marked a significant leap in hardware-level data security. Despite recent progress in PUF technology, challenges such as energy efficiency, cost, scalability, randomness, and reconfigurability remain. Overcoming these hurdles requires innovative materials and designs. SECURE-FLEXIMAG aims to strengthen data security and promote technology transfer by building on the PI's recent research in three key areas: (i) magneto-ionics, (ii) exchange coupling to lock access to data and (iii) stochastic magnetization reversal phenomena in arrays of magnetic dots. These effects can be synergistically combined to develop an advanced data-security device that will largely surpass conventional password methods and current PUF approaches. The project will explore market prospects and business development strategies in collaboration with various stakeholders and potential end users.