Fabrication, properties, and applications of flexible magnetic films

Abstract

Flexible magnetic devices, i.e., magnetic devices fabricated on flexible substrates, are very attractive in application of detecting magnetic field in arbitrary surface, non-contact actuators, and microwave devices due to the stretchable, biocompatible, light-weight, portable, and low cost properties. Flexible magnetic films are essential for the realization of various functionalities of flexible magnetic devices. To give a comprehensive understanding for flexible magnetic films and related devices, we have reviewed recent advances in the studies of flexible magnetic films including fabrication methods, magnetic and transport properties of flexible magnetic films, and their applications in magnetic sensors, actuators, and microwave devices. Three typical methods were introduced to prepare the flexible magnetic films.Stretching or bending the flexible magnetic films offers a good way to apply mechanical strain on magnetic films, so that magnetic anisotropy, exchanged bias, coercivity, and magnetoresistance can be effectively manipulated. Finally, a series of examples were shown to demonstrate the great potential of flexible magnetic films for future applications.

Untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots

“…The magnetic field is a promising driving force that potentially enables fast actuation 16,23,24 remotely without constraining on-board power sources and control units typically required for untethered robots 25,26 . Such soft robots can be programmed during fabrication 14,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][27][28][29][30][31] , enabling them to accomplish various tasks. These properties endow magnetic soft robots with the ability to move even in complex environments for biomedical applications such as cell manipulation 21 , drug delivery 32 , and disease diagnosis [33][34][35] .…”

Polymer-based smart materials by printing technologies: Improving application and integration

“…GMR sensors were initially deposited on silicon wafers with a buffer layer based on photosensitive polymer AR-P 3510. The resulting GMR sensors revealed rolled-up or flake-like structures emerging from the inherent strain of the deposited GMR films 182 .…”

Magneto-Transport in Flexible 3D Networks Made of Interconnected Magnetic Nanowires and Nanotubes

“…In addition, magnetic and non-magnetic layers can be electrochemically stacked to obtain interconnected multilayered NW networks [ 14 , 21 , 22 ] by adapting the pulse electrodeposition technique [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In the context of recent researches for the realization of light-weight, flexible, shapeable, and even wearable magneto-electronic devices [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] and thermoelectric devices [ 30 ], the polymer membrane also provides flexible and shapeable properties to the network–polymer composite, as well as a protection against the oxidation of metallic NWs or NTs. Here, we report on the synthesis and characterization of the magneto-transport properties of various networks made of NWs, NTs and multilayers fabricated by template-assisted electrodeposition using track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membranes with crossed nanochannels.…”