ABSTRACT
Magnetism has enabled the development and exploitation of fundamental science ranging from quantum mechanics, to condensed matter chemistry and physics, to materials science. Control of the magnetic behavior of materials has enabled the wide spread availability of low-cost electricity and electric motors, to the development of telecommunication devices (microphones, televisions, telephones, etc.) as well as the magnetic storage for computers. Magnets are suitable components for sensors and actuators and are crucial for smart materials and systems. Magnetic materials known from time immemorial are comprised of either transition or rare earth metals or their ions with spins residing in d-or f-orbitals, respectively, e.g., Fe, Gd, CrO2, SmCo5, Co17Sm2, and Nd2Fe14B. ese materials are prepared by hightemperature metallurgical methods and generally are brittle, and chemically reactive. e latter half of the twentieth century has witnessed the replacement of many metal and ceramic materials with lightweight polymeric materials. While this has been primarily occurred for structural materials, examples in increasing numbers have also occurred for electrically conducting and optical materials. More recently, examples new of magnetic materials [1] have been reported and undoubtedly the twenty-fi rst century will see the commercialization of organic/polymeric magnets [2].
