AI Discovers Rare-Earth-Free Magnet, Promising Cheaper, Greener EVs and Tech

UK company Materials Nexus has used its AI platform to discover a new rare-earth-free permanent magnet called MagNex, 200 times faster than traditional methods and with the potential to significantly reduce material costs and carbon emissions in magnet production.

Growing demand for rare earth magnets in electric motors: The shift towards electric vehicles is driving a rapid rise in demand for compact, high-power motors that rely on rare earth magnets, with Materials Nexus estimating a tenfold increase in permanent magnet demand by 2030 in the EV industry alone.

• Over 80% of modern electric vehicles use permanent magnet motors, which are also in high demand for applications like robotics, drones, wind turbines, and HVAC equipment.
• China currently dominates the mining and processing of rare earth materials, giving it significant control over the supply and pricing of these essential components.

The search for rare-earth alternatives: Companies are exploring magnet-free motor designs and rare-earth-free permanent magnets to reduce reliance on these materials.

• Niron Magnetics has developed high-performance rare-earth-free magnets using iron and nitrogen, but after more than a decade of research, they are still not ready for mass production.
• Materials Nexus believes its AI platform can dramatically accelerate the discovery and development of new rare-earth-free magnetic materials from years to mere days or weeks.

AI-driven discovery of MagNex: Materials Nexus’ AI analyzed over 100 million rare-earth-free compositions, considering factors like cost, supply chain security, performance, and environmental impact, before identifying the MagNex material.

• The company synthesized and tested MagNex with the University of Sheffield, completing work in three months that would have traditionally taken years.
• MagNex can be produced at 20% the material cost of current rare earth magnets, with a 70% reduction in material carbon emissions.

Broader potential of Materials Nexus’ AI: The company sees applications for its AI platform across various industries, helping identify and create next-generation materials that drive technological advancements and reduce CO2 emissions.

• The platform has already attracted interest for applications in semiconductors, catalysts, and coatings.
• Materials Nexus plans to work with industrial partners to accelerate the discovery of cost-effective, sustainable materials to address pressing supply chain and environmental challenges.

Looking ahead: While the discovery of MagNex is promising, it remains to be seen if it will become a viable alternative for permanent magnet motors in EVs and other applications.

• The announcement lacked specific details on MagNex’s performance compared to traditional rare earth magnets, leaving questions about its efficiency, strength, heat resilience, and shock resilience unanswered.
• Transitioning from discovery to mass production can be a lengthy process, and it will be crucial to monitor Materials Nexus’ progress in bringing MagNex to market and demonstrating its real-world performance and benefits.