Developing Substitutes

As CMI begins its 13th year of operation in 2025, the CMI focus area Developing Substitutes will conduct research around the themes of Materials Discovery and Maturation, Energy-Efficient Rare Earth Metals Production and Novel Processing. For questions or more information, please contact cmidirector@ameslab.gov.

News & Highlights

All News | All Highlights

M-H hysteresis loop of Ce-Nd-Fe-B nanoparticle with Nd < 10 wt%, demonstrating 14 kOe coercivity.

Research Highlight

CMI leaders co-organize, attend 12th U.S.-Japan Bilateral Meeting on Rare Metals

Research Projects

CMI Project 2.1.1 Novel chemistry and processes to enable nanostructures for permanent magnets

CMI Project 2.1.2 Accelerated discovery and development of low-cost, low-criticality competitor to the Nd2Fe14B-based magnets

CMI Project 2.1.3 Systems level modeling and prototyping

CMI Project 2.2.5 Bypassing electrolysis: one-step calciothermic route to NdFeB powders from Nd2O3

CMI Project 2.2.6 Energy-efficient metallothermic reduction of rare earths

CMI Project 2.2.8 A novel ‘continuous’ reactor for molten salt electrowinning of neodymium metal enabling low-cost and scalable domestic metal production

Developing Substitutes

News & Highlights

High coercivity Ce-Nd-Fe-B with <10 wt.% Nd

Scalable synthesis of K-RE-F salts for rare earth metal production

Cold-sprayed oxide anodes for Nd molten salt electrolysis

SmFeN magnet production: hot pressing vs. spark plasma sintering