High-throughput screening for rare-earth-free permanent magnet and magnetocaloric effect applications in Fe-N alloys

Abstract

Based on high-throughput density functional theory calculations, we have found 49 ferromagnetic cases in Fe_xN_1-x (0<x<1) compounds, focusing especially on permanent magnet and giant magnetocaloric effect applications. It is found that 15 compounds are potential permanent magnets with a magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy more than 1 MJ/m³, filling the gap in application spectrum between rare earth based permanent magnets and those based on transition metal compounds. Among the potential permanent magnets, Fe₂N can be classified as a hard magnet while the other 14 compounds can be classified as semi-hard magnets. According to the calculations of magnetic deformation proxy, 40 compounds are identified as potential giant magnetocaloric effect candidates. We suspect that Fe-N compounds provide fine opportunities for applications in both rare-earth free permanent magnets and magnetocaloric effect.