'Plastic Magnet Proven' Professor Baek Jong-beom, Scientist of the Month for November
Breaking the Stereotype of Metal Magnets
World's First Identification of Plastic Magnetic Material
[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Professor Jongbeom Baek of the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, who proved that even light organic plastics can exhibit magnetism when the number of free electrons increases like metals, thereby demonstrating the reality of organic magnets, was selected as the Scientist of the Month for November on the 4th.
The Ministry of Science and ICT selects one researcher each month who has contributed to the advancement of science and technology through excellent research and development achievements, awarding the Minister of Science and ICT Award and a prize of 10 million won.
Professor Baek is the person who demonstrated that organic materials composed of carbon can also possess magnetism. His research team succeeded in producing a magnetic plastic (p-TCNQ) by reacting TCNQ, an organic compound containing carbon atoms, at a high temperature of 155 degrees Celsius. The synthesized plastic exhibited ferromagnetism as the electron spins were spaced at appropriate distances, naturally influencing each other.
This plastic magnet was published in the journal Chem in August 2018, and the research team is conducting follow-up studies aiming to develop technologies applicable to real life, such as MRI contrast agents and electric vehicle motors, by utilizing the advantages of plastic magnets that do not rust and can be used permanently.
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Professor Baek stated, "This research is significant in that it proposed new possibilities for plastic magnets by designing organic structures with free electrons," adding, "Through follow-up research to increase the strength of ferromagnetism, I hope to lay the foundation in the field of magnetic materials research and contribute to industrial development by complementing the shortcomings of metal magnets."
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