Anisotropic nanocomposite soft/hard multilayer magnets

Experimental and theoretical researches on nanostructured exchange coupled magnets have been carried out since about 1988. Here, we review the structure and magnetic properties of the anisotropic nanocomposite soft/hard multilayer magnets including some new results and phenomena from an experimental point of view. According to the different component of the oriented hard phase in the nanocomposite soft/hard multilayer magnets, three types of magnets will be discussed: 1) anisotropic Nd₂Fe₁₄B based nanocomposite multilayer magnets, 2) anisotropic SmCo₅ based nanocomposite multilayer magnets, and 3) anisotropic rare-earth free based nanocomposite multilayer magnets. For each of them, the formation of the oriented hard phase, exchange coupling, coercivity mechanism, and magnetic properties of the corresponding anisotropic nanocomposite multilayer magnets are briefly reviewed, and then the prospect of realization of bulk magnets on new results of anisotropic nanocomposite multilayer magnets will be carried out. (topical review — magnetism, magnetic materials, and interdisciplinary research)