Multiscale Correlation of Magnetism and Microstructure at Iron/Oxide Interfaces

铁粉在提高电机效率和降低电机成本方面具有巨大的潜力。然而，缺乏一种具有机械耐用性、电绝缘性和磁性的涂层材料，是在电磁磁芯中实现铁粉的根本障碍。在这个项目中，通过分子束外延制备的候选氧化物涂层，将通过研究薄膜异质结构形式的氧化物- fe界面的磁性和结构特性来确定。原子尺度显微镜和中子散射技术的结合将揭示界面的原子结构和磁性行为是如何相关的，为缺陷、应变和局部化学计量如何改变界面磁性提供前所未有的见解。基于这些结果，将确定用于铁粉基电磁器件的最佳涂层和加工条件。这项工作解决了现有工业生产环境中的已知障碍，并战略性地针对下一代材料和电磁设备未来方向所需的加工。这项研究将对教育和经济产生双重影响。我们将制定外展计划，使学生接触到我们日益增长的节能工业和经济中的工作机会。这些活动将把来自西费城（主要是少数族裔）学校的学生聚集在一起，参加与电动机、混合动力汽车和替代能源相关的研讨会和招聘会。对这些新材料的开发和理解将为社会带来实实在在的好处。电动机的能量转换比内燃机增加了50%以上，因此，这些汽车应用材料的发展将引导汽车工业摆脱对化石燃料的依赖，并降低消费者成本。这将转化为技能和知识的发展，为未来的工程师和技术专业人员，将成为参与汽车，航空航天和工业部门。

Fe powders show tremendous potential for improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of electric motors. However, the lack of a coating material, which is mechanically durable, electrically insulating, and magnetic, is a fundamental obstacle to the implementation of Fe powders in electromagnetic cores. In this project, candidate oxide coatings, prepared by molecular beam epitaxy, will be identified by investigating the magnetic and structural properties of oxide-Fe interfaces in the form of thin film heterostructures. The combination of atomic scale microscopy and neutron scattering techniques will reveal how the atomic structure and magnetic behavior of the interfaces are correlated, providing unprecedented insight into how defects, strain, and local stoichiometry alter interfacial magnetism. Based on these results, optimal coatings and processing conditions will be identified for use in Fe-powder-based electromagnetic devices. The work addresses known hurdles within existing industrial production environments and is strategically targeted towards the next generation materials and processing necessary for the future direction of electromagnetic devices.This research will have both educational and economic impacts. Outreach programs will be developed to expose students to job opportunities in our growing energy efficient industry and economy. These will bring together groups of students from West Philadelphia (predominantly minority) schools for workshops and career fairs associated with electric motors, hybrid vehicles, and alternative energy. Development and understanding of these new materials will provide a tangible benefit to society. Electric motors have over a 50% increase in energy conversion over internal combustion engines, and thus, the development of these materials for automotive applications steer the automotive industry away from the dependence on fossil fuels and drives down consumer costs. This will translate into the development of the skills and knowledge for upcoming engineers and technical professionals that will become involved in the automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors.