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
Research Highlight
CMI scientists volunteer for Iowa Regional Science Bowl
Research Highlight
Advancing coercivity in Ce2Fe17N3-based alloys
Research Highlight
High conversion of NdCl3 to Nd metal using chloride molten salt electrolysis
Research Highlight
CMI leaders lead panel discussion at Magnetics 2026
Research Highlight
AFTRE: HF-free route to rare-earth fluorides
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
CMI Project 2.3.4 Tailored synthesis in nanoparticle permanent magnets (NPPM)
CMI Project 2.3.7 Accelerated magnetic development via microstructure design
CMI Focus Area Lead for Developing Substitutes David Parker, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, describes rare earth magnets in the ORNL video "The Power of Rare Earth Magnets."