Rensselaer polytechnic institute, new award control #3590-1549 , DE-FOA-0003590 (MAGNITO) title: motifs to magnets: ultra-strong magnets through wyckoff and lego-like design permanent magnets play a…

The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a cooperative agreement for $736,960 on July 14, 2026, under the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy program (CFDA 81.135) to develop ultra-strong permanent magnets through motif-engineered atomic-scale design.

The project, titled "Motifs to Magnets: Ultra-Strong Magnets Through Wyckoff and LEGO-Like Design," creates a new generation of permanent magnets with higher performance and reduced reliance on traditional rare-earth materials. RPI will employ advanced computer modeling, high-throughput thin-film synthesis, and bulk materials testing to explore magnet compositions by strategically positioning clusters of magnetic atoms—including iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and select rare-earth elements—within crystalline structures. The work aims to enhance magnetic strength, increase energy density, and raise operating temperatures beyond current commercial limits, while lowering costs and securing domestic supply chains for magnets critical to electric vehicles, wind turbines, aircraft actuators, robotics, and data-storage hardware. A multidisciplinary team spanning materials design, solid-state chemistry, physics, and industrial applications will conduct the research.

Performance runs from July 14, 2026, through July 13, 2029, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Rensselaer polytechnic institute, new award control #3590-1549 , DE-FOA-0003590 (MAGNITO) title: motifs to magnets: ultra-strong magnets through wyckoff and lego-like design permanent magnets play a vital role in technologies that power modern life, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to aircraft actuators, robotics, and data-storage hardware used for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Todays strongest commercial magnets, based on neodymium- iron-boron and samarium-cobalt, were developed decades ago and have reached performance limits. At the same time, the united states depends heavily on foreign sources of rare-earth elements needed to produce these magnets, creating vulnerabilities in critical technology supply chains. This project aims to create a new generation of ultra-strong permanent magnets that deliver higher performance while reducing reliance on traditional rare-earth materials. Our approach introduces a new motif-engineered design strategy that places specific clusters of magnetic atoms, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, or certain rare-earth elements, into carefully chosen positions within a crystalline structure. By designing these materials at the atomic scale, we can enhance magnetic strength, increase energy density, and raise the operating temperature of the magnets beyond what is possible today. The project combines advanced computer modeling, high- throughput thin-film synthesis, and bulk materials testing to explore and identify promising new magnet compositions rapidly. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts in materials design, solid-state chemistry, physics, and industrial applications. If successful, this effort will open pathways to next-generation magnets with improved performance, lower costs, and more secure domestic supply chains. These breakthroughs would support the nations energy goals, strengthen U.S. Manufacturing competitiveness, and enable new technologies in transportation, renewable energy, and national defense.