Synthesis and Characterization of Hard Ferromagnetic Cobalt Carbide Nanomaterials

Zachary Huba (Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University)

Permanent magnets are used in many energy related applications, with that usage projected to increase along with the shift to electric vehicles and alternative power sources (e.g. wind turbines).1 While there are many different permanent magnetic materials, the most widely used are Rare Earth (RE) element containing magnets. RE magnets have superior magnetic properties but suffer from limited supply chains and high costs. Since 2009, prices for RE elements have increased by 20 fold in some cases, causing a dramatic increase in the cost of RE permanent magnets.2 Hence new and alternative RE free materials are needed to make the switch to greener technologies (electric cars and wind power) an economically efficient process.

In 2010, cobalt carbide nanomaterials were discovered to possess significant hard ferromagnetic properties.3 While the cobalt carbide system is attractive for future permanent magnet applications, due to the absence of RE elements, the system is relatively unexplored and requires further study. The scope of this talk revolves around the chemical synthesis, materials characterization, and magnetic properties of cobalt carbide nanomaterials. The development of synthetic protocols allowing for controlling crystal phase and tailoring particle shape allow for enhanced permanent magnetic properties in the cobalt carbide system.4 Also, the use of a continuous flow microreactor reactor to synthesize magnetic particles will be discussed.

References (1) Gutfleisch, O.; Willard, M. A.; Bruck, E.; Chen, C. H.; Sankar, S. G.; Liu, J. P. Advanced Materials 2011, 23, 821-842. (2) Kramer, M. J.; McCallum, R. W.; Anderson, I. A.; Constantinides, S. JOM 2012, 64, 752-763. (3) Harris, V. G.; Chen, Y.; Yang, A.; Yoon, S.; Chen, Z.; Geiler, A. L.; Gao, J.; Chinnasamy, C. N.; Lewis, L. H.; Vittoria, C.; Carpenter, E. E.; Carroll, K. J.; Goswami, R.; Willard, M. A.; Kurihara, L.; Gjoka, M.; Kalogirou, O. Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics 2010, 43, 7. (4) Carroll, K. J.; Huba, Z. J.; Spurgeon, S. R.; Qian, M.; Khanna, S. N.; Hudgins, D. M.; Taheri, M. L.; Carpenter, E. E. Applied Physics Letters 2012, 101, 012409.

Back to Seminar Home Page

Last modified 28-February-2014 by website owner: NCNR (attn: )