Analysis of texture in magnets – towards a greener future without rare earth metals
PhD defence, friday 10th of April 2026, Jacob Løwe Valentin
During his PhD studies, Jacob Løwe Valentin researched modern permanent magnets, which are essential for a greener future, in a manner excluding the environmental burdensome rare earth metals. A new method for fabricating magnets without rare earth metals has created new challenges in the texture of the magnets, which is a measurement of how the tiny grain which make up the magnet are orientated inside the magnet. Jacob Løwe Valentin studied the microscopic effects that can affect the texture, has shown how neutrons can be used to measure the magnetic texture and has shown how the combination of different textures in the same magnet can improve the strength of a magnet.
The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how the next generation of permanent magnets can be fabricated without the use of rare earth metals, how they can be measured and optimised.
The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.
This summary was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Friday, 10th of april 2026 at 13:15
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Lecture Theatre iNANO Aud., iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wields Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Quantifying texture in hexaferrite permanent magnets
Contact information: Jacob Løwe Valentin, e-mail: JLValentin@proton.me, tel.: +45 42349213
Members of the assessment committee:
Head of the Diffraction and Imaging Divison Mikhail Feygenson, European Spallation Source (ESS), Sweden
Director Jacob Overgaard, Technological Institute, Industrial Materials Technology, Denmark
Professor Torben René Jensen (chair), Department of Chemistry and Interdiciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus Universitet, Danmark
Main supervisor: Professor Mogens Christensen, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus Universitet, Danmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C