A significant matter of dialog on the ARPA-E summit was geologic hydrogen—there’s a ton of pleasure about efforts to search out underground deposits of the fuel, which can be utilized as a gas throughout a variety of industries, together with transportation and heavy business.
Final 12 months, ARPA-E funded a handful of tasks on the subject, together with one in Iwnetim Abate’s lab at MIT. Abate is among the many researchers who’re aiming not simply to hunt for hydrogen, however to really use underground situations to assist produce it. Earlier this 12 months, his group printed analysis displaying that through the use of catalysts and situations frequent within the subsurface, scientists can produce hydrogen in addition to different chemical compounds, like ammonia. Abate cofounded a spinout firm, Addis Vitality, to commercialize the analysis, which has since additionally obtained ARPA-E funding.
All of the rocks on the desk, from the chunk of darkish, laborious basalt to the softer talc, might be used to provide these chemical compounds.
An electrical guitar powered by iron nitride magnets
The sound of music drifted from the Niron Magnetics sales space throughout close by walkways. Individuals wandering by stopped to take turns testing out the corporate’s magnets, within the type of an electrical guitar.
Most high-powered magnets right this moment comprise neodymium—demand for them is ready to skyrocket within the coming years, particularly because the world builds extra electrical autos and wind generators. Provides might stretch skinny, and the geopolitics are sophisticated as a result of many of the provide comes from China.
Niron is making new magnets that don’t comprise uncommon earth metals. As a substitute, Niron’s know-how is predicated on extra considerable supplies: nitrogen and iron.
The guitar is an illustration product—right this moment, magnets in electrical guitars usually comprise aluminum, nickel, and cobalt-based magnets that assist translate the vibrations from metal strings into an electrical sign that’s broadcast by way of an amplifier. Niron made an instrument utilizing its iron nitride magnets as an alternative. (See images of the guitar from an occasion final 12 months right here.)
Niron opened a pilot business facility in late 2024 that has the capability to provide 10 tons of magnets yearly. Since we final coated Niron, in early 2024, the corporate has introduced plans for a full-scale plant, which could have an annual capability of about 1,500 tons of magnets as soon as it’s absolutely ramped up.
