Researchers see rare-earth-like magnetic properties in iron

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 10:12am

A single crystal of lithium-iron nitride. Scientists  at Ames Laboratory observed magnetic properties in iron-ions in these lithium-iron nitrides that are typically associated with rare-earth elements.Scientists at the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE)’s Ames Laboratory have observed magnetic properties typically associated with those observed in rare-earth elements in iron. These properties are observed in a new iron based compound that does not contain rare earth elements, when the iron atom is positioned between two nitrogen atoms. The discovery opens the possibility of using iron to provide both the magnetism and permanence in high-strength permanent magnets, like those used in direct-drive wind turbines or electric motors in hybrid cars. The results appeared in Nature Communications.




“Usually iron and lithium don’t mix,” said Canfield, who is also a prof. of physics and astronomy at Iowa State Univ. “It seems adding nitrogen to the lithium in the solution allows iron to go in.”



Source: Ames Lab


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