Multi-property rare-earth-element free magnetocaloric materials

Research question

Magnetic cooling or magnetic refrigeration systems that can operate in harsh environmental conditions rely on the development of novel magnetocaloric materials. The main purpose of the project is to develop innovative rare earth element (REE)-free magnetocaloric materials with balanced magnetocaloric and mechanical properties, supported by artificial intelligence (AI). The new material development will be based on a paradigm-shifting alloying concept, compositionally complex alloys (CCAs).  

Sustainability aspect

By developing energy-efficient and sustainable magnetic refrigerators using non-critical magnetocaloric materials the project contributes to the UN Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) 9. Since REE mining damages seriously surface vegetation causes soil erosion, pollution and acidification, and generate high doses of radioactive residues in the wastewater, the use of REE-free materials would therefore also contribute to SDG 12.