The work is divided into seven work packages (WP)

WP1: Project Management

Evaluation of the results and guidance, design of the experimental conditions, dissemination of the results, financial monitoring, and intermediate and final scientific reports authorship.

WP2: Synthesis and Characterization of tetragonal FeNiCo ternary nanoalloys

Synthesis of colloidal ternary FeNiCo alloys with controllable composition in high boiling point organic solvents via thermal decomposition of simple iron, nickel and cobalt inorganic salts in the presence of long-chain aliphatic amines, carboxylic acids and diols, with and without third element doping. Characterization of the corresponded nanoparticles with XRD, Rietveld analysis, Mossbauer, TEM, VSM, and SQUID.

WP3: Synthesis and Characterization of tetragonal FeCo binary nanoalloys

Synthesis of colloidal ternary FeCo alloys in high boiling point organic solvents via thermal decomposition of simple iron, nickel and cobalt inorganic salts in the presence of long-chain aliphatic amines, carboxylic acids and diols, with and without third element doping. Characterization of the corresponded nanoparticles with XRD, Rietveld analysis, Mossbauer, TEM, VSM, and SQUID.

WP4: Synthesis and Characterization of L1₀ MPt/L1₀ FeCo core/shell type nanoparticles, where M is Fe or Co

Liquid phase synthesis of L1₀ ordered MPt nanoparticles and complete structural, morphological, and magnetic characterization using XRD, Rietveld analysis, Mossbauer, TEM and VSM or SQUID. Utilization of the corresponded nanoparticles as nuclei centers for the growth in high boiling point organic medium, of FeCo shells with controllable thickness. Structural characterization of the FeCo shells and estimation of the overall core/shell nanoparticles magnetic properties.

WP 5: Magnetic Interactions and Modeling of Reversal

In selected samples with promising hysteretic behavior specialized characterization will include FORC analysis of the families of reversal curves in order to get a full map of existing switching and interaction field distributions and possible asymmetries. Task 5.2 For predicting the properties large interacting particle assemblies micromagnetic simulations using the finite differences simulation GPU-accelerated software Mumax³ will be used which can perform efficiently and quickly calculations of hysteresis in complex multiphase structures. Task 5.3 For predicting properties that of individual particles depend sensitively on the exact characteristics of micromagnetic simulations using the atomistic level software Vampire will be implemented. This approach is suitable alloying at interfaces, temperature effects but also supports ultrafast spin dynamics and quasi-static hysteresis.

WP 6: Fabrication of the prototype magnets based on the optimum materials

The nanoparticle powders will be aligned and compacted at room temperature to form a “green compact”. This compact will be consolidated at low temperatures (preferably below 700 ^oC) to form a magnet with a density close to that of bulk samples.

WP 7: Dissemination and Communication Management

Dissemination to scientific community, the wider public and the possible end-users.