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Nano-crystalline particles of barium ferrite have been prepared by co-precipitation route using aqueous and non-aqueous solutions of iron and barium chlorides with a Fe/Ba molar ratio of 11. Water and a mixture of diethylene glycol and water with volume ratio of 3:2 were used as solvents in the process. Co-precipitated powders were annealed at various temperatures for 1 h. Phase composition of the samples was evaluated by XRD while their morphology was studied by TEM and SEM techniques. The XRD results showed that the single phase barium ferrite obtained at 750°C when diethylene glycol/water mixture was used as a solvent. This temperature increased to 900°C when the starting materials dissolved in water. Nano-size particles of barium ferrite with mean particle size of almost 50 and 80 nm were observed in the SEM micrographs of the samples synthesized in diethylene glycol/water solution after annealing at 750°C and 800°C for 1 h, respectively. The corresponding mean crystallite size measured by TEM for sample annealed at 800°C was 40 nm.

A simplified micromagnetic model has been proposed to calculate the hysteresis loops of nanostructured permanent magnets for various configurations, including thin films, exchange-coupled double-layer systems and bulk materials. The reversal part of the hysteresis is based on the Stoner–Wohlfarth coherent rotational model and the coercivity mechanism is due mainly to the motion of the transition region (a domain wall like magnetic moment distribution in the grain boundary). The elements of nucleation and pinning models are also incorporated.

High-performance permanent magnets (PMs) have gained high and growing interest due to their excessive demand in energy conversion systems and electric vehicles. PM-based electric machines exhibit great advantages over traditional motors due to their high efficiency of energy conversion. Nd–Fe–B magnet is the best available magnet in terms of energy-product at room temperature. Replacement of Nd by heavy rare earth (HRE) and of Fe by Co results in an enhanced anisotropy field and an improved thermal stability, but also increases the production costs. Developing a strong PM with minimum use of HRE elements is required due to their high cost, low availability and issues associated with international politics. Grain boundary diffusion (GBD) process allows the HRE to diffuse around the grain boundaries, unlike adding expensive HRE to the middle of a grain. Here, we review the recent progress in PMs, especially the novel development of grain boundary-diffused magnets and nanostructured magnets. GBD processes using RE, fluorides or hydrides of RE and eutectic alloys are discussed. Development of nanostructured PMs using physical and chemical methods such as melt spinning, high-energy ball milling, surfactant-assisted ball milling, mechanochemical method, etc. is elucidated. The current and future trends in the area of high performance permanent magnets are outlined.