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NICKEFFECT aims to develop novel ferromagnetic Ni-based coating materials to replace the scarce and costly Platinum and ensure high efficiency in key applications.

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Materials selection is at the heart of the NICKEFFECT project. Replacing Pt-group metals with Ni is far from trivial. Materials with new compositions, structures, and topologies have to be explored and their physical and chemical properties need to be assessed. Traditionally, this exploration has been performed experimentally: a material is first synthesized and then tested in a lab to check whether it fulfills the requirements related to its application. This approach is long, requires resources, and can lead to failure at any step of the process. The scientist iterates through materials until a good solution is found, through trial and error or serendipity.   Fortunately, in the last few decades, computational tools have reached a maturity where the stability and physical properties of materials can be predicted before synthesizing them. These tools rely on density-functional theory (DFT) or more recently on machine learning (ML) when data is available. Such computations are not...

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In recent decades, both Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Elsyca have independently developed multiple software tools for simulating Multi-Ion Transport and Reaction (MITRe) models. Originally utilized by VUB for corrosion-related simulations, the MITRem code has been revitalized under the NICKEFFECT project. It is now geared towards microscopic 3D electrodeposition simulations of porous structures. Additionally, various single-metal and alloy plating processes have been successfully modelled.   The workflow for MITRe model simulations involves several key steps. Initially, there's a need to identify the relevant species present in the electrolyte, followed by establishing a plausible electrode reaction mechanism. Subsequently, obtaining relevant kinetic parameters for the electrode reactions involved in the plating process is essential. Within the framework of the NICKEFFECT project, this was accomplished for a nickel alloy plating process of interest by retrofitting polarization curves using Elsyca PIRoDE software. These curves were based on polarization experiments conducted at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)...

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Aitor Arredondo and Jordi Sort from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, NICKEFFECT’s project partners, participated at the 22nd International Conference on Magnetism (ICM2024) in Bologna Congress Center. This event is the largest gathering of the magnetism community worldwide and promises to showcase the resilience and excellence of the field, from fundamental research to innovative applications.   At ICM2024, Aitor Arredondo and Jordi Sort presented their work titled "Composition-dependent voltage-driven OFF-ON switching of ferromagnetism in Co-Ni oxide microdisks.” This research represents a significant advancement in the field of magnetism, exploring innovative methods to manipulate ferromagnetic properties through compositional changes and applied voltage.   The presentation highlighted the intricacies of OFF-ON ferromagnetism switching in Co-Ni oxide microdisks. The ability to control ferromagnetic states with precision opens new windows for applications in data storage, spintronics, and magnetic sensing technologies. Attendees expressed a strong interest in the technical aspects of the work, wanting to know more about the mechanisms...

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