The use of spin transfer nano-oscillators (STNOs) to generate microwave signal in nanoscale devices have aroused tremendous and continuous research interest in recent years. Their key features are frequency tunability, nanoscale size, broad working temperature, and easy integration with standard silicon technology. In this feature article, we give an overview of recent developments and breakthroughs in the materials, geometry design and properties of STNOs. We focus in more depth on our latest advances in STNOs with perpendicular anisotropy showing a way to improve the output power of STNO towards the {mu}W range. Challenges and perspectives of the STNOs that might be productive topics for future research were also briefly discussed.
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