Nanostructured magnetic materials for clean automotive technologies. Greater utilisation of the petrol-electric hybrid technology is an effective and realistic approach to the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Owing to the requirement of the temperature stability of the magnets used in the electric motors in the current hybrid vehicles, the magnets contain considerable amounts of costly rare-earth elements. This impedes the utilisation of the technology ....Nanostructured magnetic materials for clean automotive technologies. Greater utilisation of the petrol-electric hybrid technology is an effective and realistic approach to the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources. Owing to the requirement of the temperature stability of the magnets used in the electric motors in the current hybrid vehicles, the magnets contain considerable amounts of costly rare-earth elements. This impedes the utilisation of the technology and hence alternative cost effective magnets with high temperature stability are needed. In this project we will exploit a range of alloy design strategies in manganese-bismuth/iron nanocomposite magnets, thereby realising a novel permanent magnet, free of costly rare-earth elements.Read moreRead less
Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of ....Nanostructured soft magnetic alloys for low-carbon cars. The aim of this project is to prepare iron-based magnetic nanostructures that exhibit a magnetic induction of 1.9 tesla and core losses lower than those of iron-silicon steels, which would deliver smaller and efficient magnetic cores for petrol-electric hybrid cars. Preliminary results from the research team show that iron-metalloid alloys with an iron content of 87 per cent meet this magnetic induction with room for further improvement of magnetic softness. The project aims to systematically investigate the effect of metalloid and micro-alloying elements on the nano-crystallisation behaviour of the precursor amorphous alloys in order to identify the alloy composition and processing conditions for preparing magnetically soft nanostructures.Read moreRead less
Soft magnetic nanostructures for clean automotive technologies: origin of induced magnetic anisotropies. This project will clarify the mechanism of annealing-induced magnetic anisotropies in magnetic nanostructures and thereby establish a basis for further alloy development of efficient core materials for electric motors. The project outcomes will potentially lead to a significant reduction of the heat loss in petrol-electric hybrid cars.
Future electrochemical energy storage technologies. New rechargeable batteries will be developed through the use of breakthrough electrolytes based on liquid salts. These batteries are vital for the widespread use of renewables in Australia's electricity grid. They will also enable new generations of environmental sensor technology.