Discovery and implications of hidden atomic-scale structure in a metallic meteorite
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Iron and its alloys have made modern civilization possible, with metallic meteorites providing one of the human’s earliest sources of usable iron as well as providing a window into our solar system’s billion-year history. Here highest-resolution tools reveal the existence of a previously hidden FeNi nanophase within the extremely slowly cooled metallic meteorite NWA 6259. This new nanophase exists alongside Ni-poor and Ni-rich nanoprecipitates within a matrix of tetrataenite, the uniaxial, chemically ordered form of FeNi. The ferromagnetic nature of the nanoprecipitates combined with the antiferromagnetic character of the FeNi nanophases gives rise to a complex magnetic state that evolves dramatically with temperature. These observations extend and possibly alter our understanding of celestial metallurgy, provide new knowledge concerning the archetypal Fe–Ni phase diagram and supply new information for the development of new types of sustainable, technologically critical high-energy magnets.
Date Issued
2021-09-16
Date Acceptance
2021-10-01
Citation
Nano Letters: a journal dedicated to nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021, 21 (19), pp.8135-8142
ISSN
1530-6984
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
8135
End Page
8142
Journal / Book Title
Nano Letters: a journal dedicated to nanoscience and nanotechnology
Volume
21
Issue
19
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This work is published under a CC BY-NC-ND licence.
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000709549100030&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
Chemistry
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry, Physical
electron microscopy
ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE
FE
FERROMAGNETISM
IRON
iron meteorite
magnetism
MAGNETISM
Materials Science
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
micromagnetics
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
PHASE-DIAGRAM
Physical Sciences
Physics
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Science & Technology
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Technology
tetragonal iron
TETRAGONALITY
tetrataenite
TETRATAENITE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-10-13