Space Industry and Business News  
TECH SPACE
Making ferromagnets stronger by adding non-magnetic elements
by Staff Writers
Ames, IA (SPX) Jun 28, 2017


illustration only

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory discovered that they could functionalize magnetic materials through a thoroughly unlikely method, by adding amounts of the virtually non-magnetic element scandium to a gadolinium-germanium alloy.

It was so unlikely they called it a "counterintuitive experimental finding" in their published work on the research.

"People don't talk much about scandium when they are talking magnetism, because there has not been much reason to," said Yaroslav Mudryk, an Associate Scientist at Ames Laboratory. "It's rare, expensive, and displays virtually no magnetism."

"Conventional wisdom says if you take compound A and compound B and combine them together, most commonly you get some combination of the properties of each. In the case of the addition of scandium to gadolinium, however, we observed an abrupt anomaly."

Years of research exploring the properties of magnetocaloric materials, relating back to the discovery of the giant magnetocaloric effect in rare earth alloys in 1997 by Vitalij Pecharsky and the late Karl Gschneidner, Jr., laid the groundwork for computational theory to begin "hunting" for hidden properties in magnetic rare-earth compounds that could be discovered by introducing small amounts of other elements, altering the electronic structure of known materials.

"From computations, we projected that scandium may bring something really unusual to the table: we saw an unexpectedly large magnetic moment developing on its lone 3d electron," said Ames Laboratory Associate Scientist Durga Paudyal.

"It is the hybridization between gadolinium 5d and the scandium 3d states that is the key that strengthens magnetism with the scandium and transforms it to a ferromagnetic state."

"Basic research takes time to bear fruit. This is an exemplary case when 20 years ago our team started looking into what are called the 5:4 compounds," said Ames Laboratory group leader and Iowa State University Distinguished Professor Vitalij Pecharsky. "Only now we have learned enough about these unique rare earth element-containing materials to become not only comfortable but precise in predicting how to manipulate their properties at will."

The discovery could greatly change the way scandium and other 'conventionally' non-magnetic elements are considered and used in magnetic materials research and development, and possibly creates new tools for controlling, manipulating, and functionalizing useful magnetic rare-earth compounds.

The research is further discussed in the paper, "Enhancing Magnetic Functionality with Scandium: Breaking Stereotypes in the Design of Rare Earth Materials", authored by Yaroslav Mudryk, Durga Paudyal, Jing Liu, and Vitalij K. Pecharsky; and published in the Chemistry of Materials.

TECH SPACE
Piling on pressure solves enduring mystery about metal's makeup
Edinburgh UK (SPX) Jun 28, 2017
Scientists have solved a decades-old puzzle about a widely used metal, thanks to extreme pressure experiments and powerful supercomputing. Their discovery reveals important fundamental aspects of the element lithium, the lightest and simplest metal in the periodic table. The material is commonly used in batteries for phones and computers. A mystery of how the metal's atoms are arrang ... read more

Related Links
Ames Laboratory
Space Technology News - Applications and Research


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TECH SPACE
Equipping form with function

Seeing the forest through the trees with a new LiDAR system

A chemical solution to shrink digital data storage

Lightweight steel production breakthrough: Brittle phases controlled

TECH SPACE
Harris Corp. awarded Special Forces radio contract

Airbus provides German troops with support communications at 15 sites worldwide

Airbus further extends channel partner program for military satellite communications in Asia

Radio communications have surprising influence on Earth's near-space environment

TECH SPACE
TECH SPACE
India's Answer to GPS Runs Into Serious Technical Failures

Lockheed Martin nears completion of GPS III satellite

New reports confirm near-perfect performance record for civil GPS service

India to Make Native Navigation System Mandatory For All Aircraft

TECH SPACE
NASA Completes Milestone Toward Quieter Supersonic X-Plane

MiG pushing for exports of the MiG-35 fighter

Chinese passenger chucks coins into plane's engine for luck

Oman receives first Eurofighter Typhoon

TECH SPACE
Research accelerates quest for quicker, longer-lasting electronics

To connect biology with electronics, be rigid, yet flexible

Atomic imperfections move quantum communication network closer to reality

2-D material's traits could send electronics spinning in new directions

TECH SPACE
Comb and Copter system maps atmospheric gases

VTT miniature hyperspectral camera launched to space in Aalto-1 satellite

Ozone recovery may be delayed by unregulated chemicals

UK-Led Satellite Image Project That Helps Spot and Stop Slavery Sites From Space

TECH SPACE
Scientists probe role of sunscreen in accelerating coral reef decline

Risky gold rush: Indonesia tackles illegal mining boom

Facing ruin, India's ancient glass artists blame the Taj

Athens rubbish piles up as Greeks protest contracts









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.