NaNoMag project is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I call “3rd Call for H.F.R.I.’s Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers” (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 23714).
It officially started on the May 5 2025 with a 3-year duration and it aims to investigate the development of new types permanent magnets free of rare-earths, but with high energy product, and high performance at elevated temperatures.
The basic focus is on the synthesis of novel permanent magnetic materials based on the traditional, Fe, Ni and Co ferromagnetic elements.
NaNoMag Communication Summary
Today, permanent magnets constitute a fundamental component of the green transition, as they are indispensable for electric motors and wind turbines. They are composed almost entirely of rare earth elements — in particular neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), and samarium (Sm). Beyond the geopolitical risks associated with these elements — given that over 90% of global production is concentrated in China — their extraction and processing also have a considerable environmental footprint. This is largely due to the use of highly aggressive chemical agents, such as concentrated acids, required for ore processing, as well as the presence of radioactive elements in their ores. Consequently, the resulting waste poses significant hazards to public health, workers, and the environment. In response to these challenges, the NaNoMag project seeks to develop a new generation of high-performance permanent magnets that are free of rare earth elements, based on iron–cobalt-nickel-(FeCoNi) alloys. Fe, Co and Ni are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, their extraction does not involve radioactive waste management, they are more cost-effective, and their production is not subject to monopolistic control. It is worth noting that the global annual production of Fe is approximately 1.15 billion tonnes, Ni 2.25 million tonnes, Co 233 ktonnes, whereas Nd production is only 7,000 tonnes, Sm 700 tonnes, and Dy only 200 kilograms. The principal challenge in manufacturing FeCoNi permanent magnets lies in obtaining the tetragonal L1₀ structure, which exhibits high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This structure is notoriously difficult to synthesize due to the slow kinetics of its formation. The NaNoMag project addresses this by promoting atomic mobility through the deliberate creation of vacancies within the FeCoNi alloy’s crystal lattice. This methodology, developed by the project PI, has already been successfully applied to FePt and CoPt alloys with L1₀ structures. Verification of the formation of the desired hard magnetic L1 0 phase will be performed using a combination of advanced techniques available at the Institute, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Magnetic properties will be measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature and a SQUID magnetometer over a wider temperature range. In parallel, theoretical models will be developed to analyze and interpret the magnetic properties. In the final stage of the project, prototype magnets will be fabricated. The successful completion of NaNoMag will provide new scientific knowledge and establish a technological foundation for sustainable magnets with far-reaching social, environmental, geopolitical, and economic benefits. It will pave the way for innovative, high-value commercial products and strengthen technological independence and energy autonomy, while laying the groundwork for future advances in magnetic material development across Europe.