18.02.2026
A new generation of magnetic materials, known as antiferromagnets and altermagnets, could potentially replace silicon-based technologies in the future, enabling data writing speeds up to a thousand times faster while consuming significantly less energy. These materials have unique properties that allow them to function even in extremely small structures, which could meet the demands of modern times and the growing need for miniaturization of components. These crucial challenges are being addressed by the TERAFIT project, in which CEITEC VUT collaborates, with researchers led by Vojtěch Uhlíř developing methods for imaging this new generation of materials.
In 2024, the four-year TERAFIT research project was launched in the Czech Republic, aiming to develop a new generation of information technologies. The project focuses on advanced magnetic materials that could eventually replace current silicon chips. TERAFIT is funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) under the Jan Amos Komenský (JAK) operational program. The consortium of three institutions is led by Professor Tomáš Jungwirth from the Institute of Physics (FZÚ) of the Czech Academy of Sciences, with collaboration from experts at Charles University (UK) and research teams at CEITEC VUT.
Current IT technologies consume enormous amounts of energy and are approaching their physical limits. Beyond standard operations such as transportation, lighting, or building heating, we also expect further dramatic development. “Our goal is to develop a new concept of computing systems that will enable faster, more energy-efficient, and more scalable technologies for the era of artificial intelligence,” explains Vojtěch Uhlíř.
Materials of the future: antiferromagnets and altermagnets
Current IT technologies rely on ferromagnetic materials. These materials become strongly magnetized in an external magnetic field and retain this magnetization even after the field is removed. Inside, atoms act like tiny “magnets,” mostly aligned in the same direction, making the material appear as a strong magnet.
However, these materials face limits—as components are miniaturized and data writing is accelerated, their properties begin to degrade.
In contrast, antiferromagnets and the newly discovered altermagnets—whose introduction to global research has been significantly contributed to by the FZÚ team—offer new possibilities due to their unique properties and ability to function in extremely small structures.
In antiferromagnets, the internal “magnets” are arranged alternately—one atom is aligned in one direction, and the neighboring atom is oriented oppositely. These magnetic effects cancel each other out, making the material appear nearly non-magnetic. Moreover, this arrangement is largely unresponsive to external magnetic fields, making antiferromagnets excellent candidates for new types of very small and fast components.
Even more interesting are altermagnets. They combine properties of both previous types: they are not strongly magnetic externally like ordinary magnets, yet they can influence electrons in components in a way that is useful for storing and processing information. This unique combination could enable the development of new types of memory and chips that are faster, more energy-efficient, and better suited for future technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
State-of-the-art infrastructure at CEITEC VUT
Teams at CEITEC VUT are developing imaging and analytical methods that allow the study of magnetic materials down to the atomic level. A key tool in the project is the TITAN transmission electron microscope, which has recently undergone significant modernization.
Thanks to a new lens corrector and next-generation spectrometer, scientists can observe material structures with exceptional resolution and speed. The new spectrometer, funded by the TERAFIT project, allows the creation of detailed chemical maps of the samples under study. “Using these approaches, we can, for example, compare the different magnetic behaviors of various elements in the same material,” explains Uhlíř.
The TITAN microscope is part of the CEITEC Nano research infrastructure and the larger CzechNanoLab infrastructure, coordinated by Michal Urbánek from CEITEC VUT. “Integration into the larger CzechNanoLab infrastructure makes this state-of-the-art microscope accessible not only to CEITEC scientists but also to researchers from other institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad,” Urbánek concludes.
