The CMI focus area Diversifying Supply researches how to expand sources of rare earth elements and critical materials, develop transformative processes and find new uses for co-products. Researchers leading projects in Diversifying Supply are located at Ames Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Colorado School of Mines.
News & Highlights
Rio Tinto achieves battery grade lithium production at Boron plant
Rio Tinto commences lithium production at Boron mine site in California
Rio Tinto Plans New $2.9M Tellurium Recovery Plant

Subtle changes in diglycolamide structure yield large changes in rare earth separation behavior

New engine capability accelerates advanced vehicle research
Research Projects
CMI Project 1.1.11: Lithium extraction and conversion from brines
Parans Paranthaman at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Lithium extraction and conversion from brines"
CMI Project 1.1.12: Critical material recovery from ores and lean sources
Vyacheslav Bryantsev at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI Project "Critical material recovery from ores and lean sources"
CMI Project 1.1.13: Recovery of critical materials as by-products
Corby Anderson at Colorado School of Mines leads the CMI project "Recovery of critical materials as by-products"

CMI Project 1.1.14: Biologically-mediated recovery of tellurium from mine waste
Yoshiko Fujita at Idaho National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Biologically-Mediated Recovery of Tellurium from Mine Waste"
CMI Project 1.2.11: New in-silico molecular design methods for improved separations
Marilu Perez at Ames Laboratory leads the CMI Project "New in-silico molecular design methods for improved separations"
CMI Project 1.2.12: Low-temperature electrochemical synthesis of graphite
Sheng Dai at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI Project "Low-temperature electrochemical synthesis of graphite"

CMI Project 1.2.14: Enhanced separation of critical materials
Kevin Lyon at Idaho National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Enhanced separation of critical materials"
CMI Project 1.3.12: Science-enabling diverse value chain product from aluminum-cerium alloys
Orlando Rios at University of Tennessee Knoxville leads the CMI project "Science-enabling diverse value chain product from aluminum-cerium alloys"