The demand for advanced power electronics is accelerating as society becomes increasingly reliant on technologies such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and data centers. To address the significant challenges posed by rising power consumption, a collaborative research team from the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tohoku University, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has made a groundbreaking development in soft magnetic materials. Their new technique significantly improves efficiency, which is critical for the future of energy usage.
As power electronics operate at higher frequencies, the performance of soft magnetic materials used in transformers, inductors, and other components has come under scrutiny. Traditional soft magnetic materials have struggled with energy losses at these elevated frequencies, presenting a major barrier to efficiency. In response, the research team has engineered iron-based soft amorphous ribbons that demonstrate a remarkable reduction in core losses, achieving more than a 50% reduction compared to the original materials.
Advancements in High-Frequency Applications
The newly developed material excels in high-frequency ranges of several tens of kilohertz, which is vital for applications in next-generation transformers and electric vehicle (EV) drive power supply circuits. This advancement is seen as a pivotal step toward enhancing the performance of these technologies, ultimately contributing to the creation of more energy-efficient electric machines and supporting global efforts toward carbon neutrality.
The research team plans to take their work further by fabricating prototype devices, including transformers, using the innovative material. They will also conduct tests on its integration into practical power conversion circuits. This initiative is expected to pave the way for significant advancements in the field of power electronics.
The findings of this research were published in the journal Nature Communications on September 3, 2025, under the title “Ultra-Low Core Loss in Fe-enriched Soft Magnetic Ribbons Enabled by Nanostructure and High-Frequency Domain Engineering.” The study was co-authored by prominent researchers including Ravi Gautam, Shozo Hiramoto, and Nikita Kulesh, among others.
The implications of this research extend beyond mere technological improvements. As global energy demands continue to rise, innovations like these are crucial for developing sustainable solutions that meet the needs of both industry and consumers while also addressing environmental concerns. The focus on efficiency and performance in power electronics represents a promising avenue for future advancements in energy technology.
