Associate Professor Kiyonori Suzuki

Associate Professor Kiyonori Suzuki is based in Materials Engineering in the Engineering Department at Monash University.

His current research is focused primarily on the magnetic properties of nanostructured materials. In particular, he is exploring materials for electromagnetic device applications. Key elements of this research are nanostructure-magnetic properties relationships and magnetism in nanostructured systems.

Associate Professor Suzuki’s central research theme is the magnetic softening in nanostructures brought about by experimenting with the structure of materials. This opens up the opportunity for future exploration of developments in soft magnetic materials for practical use. He is excited to be able investigate the unpredictable changes in the physical properties of solids when reducing them on a nanoscale.

His group is pursuing several projects relating to this research. The first project, which has ARC funding, experiments with nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. Here, the magnetic softness is influenced by the atomic ordering, increasing the magnetic properties and heat loss.

The second project is funded by a major automotive manufacturer. Associate Professor Suzuki is investigating the use of nanostructured permanent magnets for electric vehicles which could make the vehicles more economically viable. The use of nanoscale composite magnetic materials could replace the more costly elements in the magnets.

Finally, the group is exploring charge-transfer ferromagnetism in nanoparticles where ferromagnetism can be induced not only in gold but also in copper. This could lead to further experimentation on elements other than gold.

The relevance of Associate Professor Suzuki’s research for business today is critical. He estimates that, by using nanostructured alloys which they have developed, up to 90% of the energy loss of magnetic cores could be saved. In a further study, the group has developed a technique to visualise dipolar interactions among magnetic nanoparticles. This is significant for the advanced high-density recording media of the next generation in the magnetic recording industry.

In his work, Associate Professor Suzuki collaborates closely with researchers in the automotive industry, and international experts like Dr Michels in Germany, Professor Moze in Italy, Dr Garitaonandia in Spain and Professor Aoki in Japan.

Associate Professor Suzuki’s wider interests include the study of materials technology for environmentally friendly energy cycles. He is exploring hydrogen purification by alloy membranes which could allow for the use of coal for energy generation whilst still maintaining low levels of greenhouse emissions. This has positive implications for the competitiveness of the Australian coal industry here and overseas.

Above: Magnetic anisotropy energy density of (a) conventional iron and (b) nanostructured iron with a grain size of 10 nm.

Selected Publications

Suzuki K. & Herzer G. (2006) Soft magnetic nanostructures and applications. Chapter 13 in Advanced magnetic nanostructures, edited by D. Sellmyer and R. Skomski 365-397.

Garitaonandia J.S., Insausti M., Goikolea E., Suzuki M., Cashion J.D., Kawamura N., Osawa H., Gil de Muro I.,  Suzuki K., Plazaola F. & Rojo T. (2008) Chemically induced permanent magnetism in Au, Ag and Cu nanoparticles: localization of the magnetism by element selective techniques.  Nano Letters, 8, 661-667.

Michels A., Vecchini C., Moze O.,  Suzuki K., Pranzas P.K., Kohlbrecher J. & Weissmüller J. (2006) Dipolar concentrations in nanocomposites.  Physical Review B, 74, 134407-1-13.

Suzuki K., Ito N., Garitaonandia J.S. & Cashion J.D. (2006) High saturation magnetization and soft magnetic properties of nanocrystalline (Fe,Co)₉₀Zr₇B₃ alloys annealed under a rotating magnetic field. Journal of Applied Physics 99, 08F114-1-3.