Research Highlights

Heterogeneous grain engineering overcomes mechanical fragility in Sm-Co magnets A

CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory collaborated with industry partner Energy Electron Corporation on the research for this highlight.

Cluster bi-modal (two grain sizes) magnet

Modeling mechanical properties in Sm-Co magnets

CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory used microstructural modeling to reveal an optimum concentration of a strengthening phase necessary for enhanced mechanical properties.

3D Microstructure of Sm-Co magnet with 1 vol.% MgO particles (yellow particles).

Potential 20+ MGOe Ce-based Co-lean magnet

CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory grew a single crystalline material with high magnetic properties at high temperature

Intrinsic properties of the 1:7-type Zr-doped Co-lean Ce-magnet in comparison with similar 2:17- and 1:5-matrials. The 1:7-type material is the middle point that allows potential energy products of Ce-magnets > 20 MGOe, by coupling high Ms of 2:17 with high Ha of 1:5.

Rapid response electromagnetically driven calorimeter

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Ames Laboratory a fully functional calorimeter, which operates at high heating rates via induction heating and with static magnetic fields, has been granted a patent.

A fully functional calorimeter which operates at high heating rates via induction heating and with static magnetic fields has been granted a patent.

High-Entropy Alloys Design and Origin of Properties

We employ our first-principles DFT-based electronic-structure approach to assess stability of phases of alloys with arbitrary compositions and Bravais lattices. In addition, DFT-based linear-response theory is utilized to predict Warren-Cowley short-range order (SRO), revealing competing long-range ordered phases.

Vacancy-Mediated Order in Refractory High-Entropy Alloys

Phase selection in Ti-Zr-Hf-Alx high-entropy alloys (x from 0 to 1) was investigated by density-functional-theory based electronic-structure methods that correctly address disorder and vacancies (missing atom defects found at processing temperatures).

Optical detection and manipulation of spontaneous gyrotropic electronic order

Layered material TiSe2 spontaneously develops a gyrotropic electronic order at low temperatures. Left-handed and right-handed domains are formed.

Robust Metallized-DNA Meta-atoms

Demonstrated robust optical response of metallized-DNA self-assembled metamaterials having realistic disorder and surface roughness.

Enhancing magnetic properties

CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory conducted the research for this CMI highlight on enhancing magnetic properties

Magnetic anisotropy and magnetic moment of pure CeCo5 with respect to U (eV) and orbital polarization (OP) correction (grey-shaded)

New hard magnetic materials with reduced Co content

CMI researchers at Ames Laboratory conducted this research on on new LaCo5-based hard magnetic materials with reduced Co content

Predicted formation energy (top), magnetic anisotropy (middle), and energy product for LaCo5-xFexN2-y compounds