Permanent magnets are crucially important for green technologies, where demand increases constantly to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, high-performance Nd-Fe-B magnets are widely used for this purpose. However, these magnets require heavy rare earth elements like dysprosium and terbium to operate the magnets at temperatures of over 100°C. These elements are not only scarce and costly but also pose environmental and supply chain risks.

That is why material scientist Dr. Pelin Tozman from the Functional Material Group of TU Darmstadt is researching resource-friendly alternatives. Her project, MAG-TOOL, is now receiving a Starting Grant totaling 1.5 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC) for five years. She is researching magnets with components made mainly from iron along with samarium, some of which even have better magnetic properties than Nd-Fe-B. Crucially, these magnets do not require heavy rare earth elements and use fewer light rare earths. In her research, Dr. Tozman aims to optimize the magnetic properties of these materials by developing innovative alloys.

As part of her MAG-TOOL project, she plans to create an advanced toolbox that integrates experimental techniques with modern machine-learning algorithms, streamlining the development process by reducing the reliance on trial-and-error experimentation. A cutting-edge toolbox will drastically reduce the number of experiments required. The aim is to develop a new medium- and high-performance magnet that protects resources and whose elements are safe, affordable and sustainable.

See also the LinkedIn post by the Functional Materials group and the news of TU Darmstadt.