NANOMAG

Magnetic Nanoparticles and Thin Films for Spintronic Applications and High Performance Permanent Magnets

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This proposal aims to establish a research network in the Area of magnetic nanostructured materials for novel spintronic, novel permanent magnets and biomedical applications, through collaboration and exchange of staff among six Prominent European Union Universities and Research Institutes, with top-class International laboratories, three from USA and one from Korea. The scientific objectives of the project are: (1) To synthesize and study in detail the electronic, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Rare Earth/Transition Metal oxides in bulk and thin films. (2) To functionalize Thin Films and fabricate/test prototype spintronic devices. (3) To fabricate Hybrids of Transition Metal Oxide thin film nanostructures and nanodevices with Molecule/Organic-based-Magnets. (4) To develop cutting edge basic research into the intrinsic properties of hard magnetic nanoparticles. (5) To develop new technologies for nanoparticle production using novel fabrication techniques. (6) To use novel processing techniques for the consolidation of nanoparticles into Permanent Magnet compacts, with a view to realising energy products in excess of 800 KJ/m3. (7) To functionalize and characterize Fe3O4/Fe2O3 nanoparticle colloids in various matrices for biomedical applications. (8) To test in vitro the efficacy of the produced nanocolloids for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast (as Contrast Agents). The project is based on existing collaborations between partners, together with shared PhD programs. The establishment of this staff exchange program is expected to strengthen the complementarity of the participants involved and to become a Worldwide-extending Virtual Center of Excellence in the Area of Nanostructured Magnetic Materials.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are of great interest for use in miniaturised devices. Scientists are synthesising and characterising a host of new materials with a focus on spintronics, permanent magnets and biomedicine.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

In order to design magnetic NPs for specific applications, one must be able to characterise atomic structure, surface structure, and magnetic structure or spin dynamics. With EU support of the project NANOMAG, scientists are developing magnetic nano-structured materials for applications in permanent magnets, spintronics and biomedicine.

The consortium of six prominent European universities and research institutes together with one Korean and three American laboratories plans to establish a research network in magnetic nano-structured materials. The focus is on rare earth and transition metal oxides in bulk and thin films.

Researchers plan to study them alone and as hybrids with molecular organic-based magnets (MOMs) or single-molecule magnets. Molecular magnets offer the possibility for exquisite tuning of properties by organic chemistry to yield designer magnets. Within the first project period, the team made important progress toward synthesis and characterisation of novel materials for subsequent use in magnetic nanodevices.

Unpaired electron spins are the basis for most magnetic phenomena. Researchers synthesised and studied transition metal oxides with high spin polarisation (important for spintronics device development) to better understand spin-dependent properties. The team has already produced and functionalised MOMs and deposited them on transition metal oxides with an eye on novel hybrid structures for spintronics.

Scientists also fabricated novel hard rare earth intermetallic NPs via an innovative synthesis technique and then carried out structural characterisation. Following that, researchers produced nanowires and thin films and analysed their structural properties.

Finally, magnetic nanofluids have been synthesised and characterised to determine suitability for use in biomedical therapy and imaging. One target is magnetic hyperthermia, an experimental technique exploiting heat generated by magnetic NPs to kill cancer cells. The materials already demonstrate high specific absorption favouring efficiency. Scientists are also planning to develop contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.

NANOMAG has laid the foundations for developmental work in the upcoming months that is fully expected to lead to prototype nanomagnetic devices. The research network has also laid the foundations for international cooperation that should benefit all concerned.