Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a unique class of smart materials capable of returning to a pre-defined shape when exposed to a specific thermal or mechanical stimulus. Unlike conventional metals, SMAs exhibit shape memory effect and superelasticity, enabling them to respond dynamically to their environment. Among them, Nitinol (nickel–titanium alloy) is the most widely used, but copper-based and iron-based SMAs also play important roles in engineering. Thanks to their ability to combine sensing, actuation, and structural functions into a single material, SMAs are now widely used across medical, industrial, aerospace, robotics, and consumer applications.

Every year on February 11, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—a moment to celebrate achievement, reflect on progress, and, just as importantly, acknowledge how much more there is to do. It is a day that invites us to look beyond statistics and remember the stories: the curiosity sparked in childhood, the persistence in the face of closed doors, and the quiet determination that led to discoveries changing how we understand the world.

This technical article reviews how doping advances Lithium Niobate (LN) and YAG crystals, and how SOI platforms enable integrated photonics. Explore applications in lasers and modulators. By Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM), a supplier of these high-purity materials.