Improving the performance of sustainable magnets

Larissa Feitosa wins Humboldt scholarship

Larissa Feitosa has been awarded a research scholarship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. This allows her to join the Atom Probe Tomography group at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat). Her work focuses on enhancing the magnetic properties of a high-entropy alloy (HEA), offering a sustainable alternative to traditional permanent magnets that rely on rare-earth elements.

Permanent magnets play a vital role in everyday life, being used in everything from cars and refrigerators to hard drives. They are also essential for the energy transition, powering wind turbines and electric vehicles. With demand for such magnets expected to grow by 8.5% annually until 2029, significant environmental challenges loom: “Traditional permanent magnets depend on rare-earth elements, which are both scarce and environmentally damaging to mine. That’s why we are focusing on developing equally effective yet sustainable alternatives. One promising approach involves high-entropy alloys made from cobalt, iron, manganese, and nickel,” explains Feitosa.

To advance HEA technology, Feitosa is investigating the intricate relationship between microstructure and magnetic properties at the atomic level. Her next steps involve testing design strategies, such as adding indium or gallium, to explore their impact on magnetization. These efforts could enhance the viability of HEAs as sustainable replacements for rare-earth-based magnets. The project is a collaborative effort involving Technical University Darmstadt, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Wuppertal, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and MPI-SusMat.

Before joining MPI-SusMat, Feitosa finished her PhD in metallurgic engineering at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. In her PhD, she studied intermetallic phases of maraging steels using atom probe tomography and additive manufacturing.

The Humboldt Foundation fosters academic collaboration between exceptional international scientists and researchers in Germany. Its fellowships are awarded to individuals with outstanding qualifications and distinctive research profiles. The freedom for recipients to select any host institution in Germany makes this award a significant honour for both the researcher and the hosting institute.