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Developing Substitutes

CMI accelerates the development of alternative magnet materials that can meet the needs of current and emerging energy technologies.

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

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Research Highlight

Bypassing electrolysis: one-step calciothermic route from Nd2O3 to Nd2Fe14B

two people standing in a factory

Research Highlight

Summer intern visits CMI industry partners

flow diagram with six segments

LLNL: Energy-efficient process delivers rare-earth element for magnets

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

Research Highlight

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

Figure: XRD pattern of KREF4 series where RE: Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy, demonstrating formation of desired feedstock phase (Phase assignments: C = cubic; H = hexagonal).

Research Highlight

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