World's Energy Revolution: Leveraging Magnetism for Global Power Supply
In coastal communities, a revolutionary source of energy is on the horizon – magnetism-based energy. This technology generates electricity from seawater, providing a reliable and sustainable source of power. The future of magnetism-based energy looks promising, with several promising technologies and applications on the horizon.
One such technology is magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), which generates electricity from the motion of fluids, such as seawater, using magnetic fields to induce electrical currents. Another exciting development is superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), a technology that stores electrical energy in a magnetic field using superconducting materials.
High efficiency is a significant benefit of magnetism-based energy systems. Electromagnetic induction, a method used in these systems, ensures minimal energy losses, resulting in increased overall system performance. SMES, in particular, can store electrical energy with high efficiency.
Scalability is another advantage of magnetism-based energy systems. They are suitable for a wide range of uses, thanks to their scalability. This scalability makes them a viable option for various applications, from small-scale devices to large-scale energy generation systems. However, MHD has medium efficiency and scalability, but it offers a low environmental impact. On the other hand, SMES has high efficiency but low scalability.
Despite these advantages, challenges remain in the widespread adoption of magnetism-based energy. Cost, materials, and scalability are the main obstacles. Research and development in high-performance magnetic materials is essential for overcoming these challenges and promoting the widespread adoption of magnetism-based energy systems.
Advancements in magnetic materials are making significant strides. Researchers are making breakthroughs in manipulating magnetic excitations like magnons to control energy transfer at the quantum level. This has implications for next-generation electronics and quantum communication devices. Another major development is in atomically thin magnetic semiconductors such as CrPS₄, which provide a stable and easily manufacturable platform for creating ultracompact magnetic memory chips, reconfigurable sensors, and quantum computing components.
The market and technology of rare earth magnets are also advancing rapidly. These powerful magnets play a crucial role in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and robotics. Demand for these magnets is expected to grow significantly, with supply chains facing geopolitical tensions prompting efforts to diversify production and develop alternatives.
In sustainability and recycling, innovative magnet recycling technologies like hydrogen-assisted recycling (HPMS) are emerging. This process breaks down magnetic scrap into reusable powder form using hydrogen, facilitating the recovery of valuable rare earth elements. Advances in biodegradable green solvents and custom magnet designs also improve environmental impact and circular economy integration for magnetic materials.
Looking to the future, there are several prospects for magnetism-based energy technologies. These include continued improvement in quantum-level control over magnetic excitations for advanced electronics and quantum computing, further development of atomically thin magnetic materials for ultra-compact, energy-efficient magnetic memory and sensing devices, expansion and diversification of rare earth magnet production, enhanced magnet recycling and sustainable manufacturing practices, and the integration of magnetism-based technologies into scalable renewable energy systems.
Overall, the field is experiencing rapid theoretical and experimental progress at atomic and quantum scales, along with strong industrial growth and sustainability efforts in materials supply and recycling. Positioning magnetism-based energy technologies for critical roles in clean energy, quantum tech, and advanced electronics in the coming decades.
[1] Reference for quantum-level control over magnetic excitations [2] Reference for atomically thin magnetic materials [3] Reference for rare earth magnets [4] Reference for hydrogen-assisted recycling [5] Reference for annual rare earth magnet supply forecast by 2036
- The development of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) in magnetic field-based energy technologies is driven by science and industry, aiming to create reliable, sustainable, and scalable power sources.
- Advancements in magnetic materials, including the control of magnetic excitations like magnons and the production of atomically thin magnetic semiconductors, are potential solutions to the challenges in the widespread adoption of magnetism-based energy, with implications for next-generation electronics, quantum communication, and energy-efficient devices.
- Financial investments and research in high-performance magnetic materials are crucial to promote the growth of industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and quantum computing, as well as to address environmental concerns related to the production, recycling, and sustainable manufacturing of magnetic materials.
