Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington have discovered a surprising new type of magnetic property that could lead to stronger magnets made from tiny particles of common iron oxide. This breakthrough could enhance the performance of everyday technologies while reducing on the need for rare-earth metals—materials that are more costly, less sustainable and harder to obtain.
"According to the fundamental principle in condensed-matter physics, the strength of a magnet is based on a physical property called anisotropy," said J. Ping Liu, distinguished professor of physics at UTA and the team leader on a new study in Nature Communications. "Conventional wisdom tells us that high anisotropy can only be generated from materials containing heavy elements, like rare-earth metals. However, our discovery opens new possibilities for making newer and stronger magnets without using heavy elements."
The research team was surprised to discover this new form of anisotropy in patterned iron oxide nanoparticles squeezed under extreme pressure.
"If we can better control these structures, we can develop a whole new class of magnetic materials while reducing our reliance on expensive, rare or hard-to-source materials," Dr. Liu said.
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Scientists from UTA, Sandia National Laboratories and Danube University in Austria collaborated on the study. Using a device called a diamond anvil cell, they applied pressures up to 18.8 gigapascals—about 180,000 times the Earth's atmospheric pressure—to the nanoparticles. The intense force rearranged the particles into tiny chains, increasing their magnetic strength.
Rare-earth metals—a group of 17 chemical elements—are not truly rare but are widely dispersed in the Earth's crust, making them difficult and environmentally costly to extract. Mining these elements typically requires multiple rounds of crushing, chemical separation and refinement.
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Magnets are essential in many everyday technologies, from smartphones and laptops to wind turbines and electric vehicles. As demand grows for smaller, lighter and more powerful devices, manufacturers face increasing challenges sourcing the materials needed to make them.
"We're hopeful that further study will lead to a more fundamental understanding of this new type of magnetic anisotropy," Liu said. "That could lead to cheaper, more powerful magnets for a variety of future technologies, including better hard drives, more efficient electric motors and new ways to use magnets in medicine and science."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
