Mapping the Phase Space of Fe-Ni alloys in Meteorites: revealing the chemical and crystallographic complexity of REE-free magnet analogues

Rare-earth permanent magnets play a critical role in green technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles. These elements are mainly sourced from a limited number of countries, many of which suffer from complex political situations. A desire for secure and ethical materials drives a strong global interest

in developing low-cost alternatives for permanent magnetic materials. For over 20-years the meteoritic mineral tetrataenite has promised one such solution due to excellent magnetic properties arising from its crystallographic and chemical structure. Recent advances in synthesis have finally started to produce

large volumes of this mineral synthetically. However, this has brought to focus new questions about the role of minor and trace elements as well as cooling rate in the formation of this extra-terrestrial alloy. Particular focus for this project will be on the formation of the nanoscale intergrowth called the cloudy

zone. It possesses a high magnetic coercively due to the combination of small tetrataenite particles (