Tailored synthesis in nanoparticle permanent magnets (NPPMs)

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Achievement
Dr. Anya Berseneva, Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, won best three-minute talk at the 2026 CMI Winter Meeting, February 9-11, 2026.

Significance and Impact

• Dr. Berseneva’s talk, “Mechanistic studies of rare-earth permanent magnet synthesis via calciothermic reduction-diffusion,” discussed recent in situ X-ray diffraction experiments conducted at the DOE’s Advanced Photon Source and Advanced Light Source (ALS) user facilities.
• This work investigated the synthesis mechanisms of Sm₂Fe₁₇N₃ and Nd₂Fe₁₄B (in collaboration with 2.2.5).

Hub Target Addressed 

• Training the critical materials workforce of the future. 
• Providing the leaders, technical experts and skilled professionals needed by U.S. industry to assure supply chains.