Scientists of Virginia Commonwealth University synthesize a kind of powerful new type of magnetic materials, which can reduce USA’s and other countries’ dependences on rare earth elements produced on China. Doctor ShiKhann explains that this discovery paves the way for improving performance of the new material or even exceeding the existing permanent magnets .
The material is made of nano-particles of iron, cobalt and carbon atoms, with 5 nanometers of magnetic area. It can store information under high temperature of 790 Kelvin. It has stable magnetic ordering enduring a long time and a great distance, which may influence the data’s storage and application. When scientists collect the powder of the new type of materials, its magnetic performance is comparable to common rare earth permanent magnet .
It is a national strategic problem that strong magnets are not made of rare earth elements, because nearly 70%-80% of rare earth is produced from China.
Permanent magnets, especially that content rare earth, are important components for electric, communication, automobile, radar and other application. In addition, appearance of green technology, including hybrid electric vehicles, directive-drive wind turbines and energy storage system, strengthens the demand of permanent magnets. However, China is the main global supplier of rare earth.
Currently, this dissertation is experimental theoretical achievement, which mainly introduce the new material’s composition, characteristic and theoretical prediction. AhmedEl-Gendy, the other author, mentions that the study is a great example that science resolve national problems. Doctor Everett Carpenter, director of the project, indicates that the new material show an excellent prospect, even it can realize applications besides permanent magnet .
