Faculty of Physics

Nanoscale magnetic Systems

Prof. Michael Farle’s research group focuses on nanoscale magnetic systems. Both static as well as dynamic (10 picoseconds or up to 24 GHz) experiments have been carried out. As part of an EU-funded project, for example, new concepts for rare-earth-free permanent magnets have been developed with the aim of increasing their magnetic energy production, thus paving the way for new energy-saving applications (electric motors, generators). As a result, cobalt/nickel nanorods were able to be chemically synthesised and CoFe nanowires electrochemically synthesised; both displayed significantly increased magnetic strengths after well-considered further handling. In a further study, Heusler alloys were produced in which 2 nm size precipitations were embedded with ferromagnetic scales and a paramagnetic core in an antiferric matrix, showed a coercive field strength of over 5 T. This strong pinning and its geometrical preferred direction can be set and is non-volatile in terms of both heat and magnetism. The MAX phases, nano-laminated magnetic materials, have been researched as a third material system that represents a new magnetic substance class that was discovered for the first time in 2014. In addition to this material-scientific work, investigations into using magnetic hybrid and nanoparticles in biomedical applications, such as hyperthermia, have been carried out. As part of this, nanoparticles with record-breaking parameters have been developed for medical applications in international collaborations (funded by the DAAD). The manufactured iron oxide and ferric nanoparticles were manufactured with respect to biocompatibility in their diameter and composition, which means that as much heat as possible can be created by the magnetic alternating fields. In a forward-looking project, it could be shown that magnetic resonance absorption in the interfaces of magnetic contrast methods could be used as a spin current detector as well as a ‘contactless temperature sensor’ for heating nanoparticles in vitro.