Enhancing and Diversifying Supply Research Highlights

Low-cost graphitization extended to biomass carbon

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Low-temperature electrochemical graphitization of coconut waste-derived carbon into high-quality flake graphite suitable for EV applications.

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

CMI researchers at Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

The separation of adjacent lanthanides continues to be a challenge worldwide, and a grand challenge within CMI in particular, because of the similar physical and chemical properties of these elements and a necessity to advance the use of clean-energy applications.

Graphitization process gets even more efficient

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Raman Spectra of as-received hard carbon and electrochemically graphitized carbon showing the successful transformation of amorphous carbon to graphite.

Adsorption reaction mechanism for rare earth flotation discovered

CMI researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Vibrational Spectra of Adsorbed Collector

A new method to recover In, Ga, and Ge from zinc smelting

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines created a new method to recover In, Ga, and Ge from zinc smelting

Proposed processing of zinc ferrite residue from zinc smelting yields separate streams for the critical materials Ga, In, and Ge while also producing revenue from increased Zn recovery.

Simulations reveal precisely how water and ligands bind to the surface of a rare earth mineral

CMI researchers at ORNL and UC-Davis collaborated on simulations that reveal precisely how water and ligands bind to the surface of a rare earth mineral

Resemblance between the naturally occurring and the computed crystal structure morphology (left). The 2D free energy surface as a function of the distance (z) from the central layer and the number of water-water hydrogen bonds (n), highlighting the multilayered water structure and the associated exchange timescales at the water-xenotime interface(right).

Computer-aided design of bis-phosphinate ligands for selective adsorption on bastnaesite

CMI research at ORNL and UC-Davis led to computer-aided design of bis-phosphinate ligands for selective adsorption on bastnaesite

Illustration of conceptual design of surface-active molecules (collectors) that are positioned to provide an optimal binding with the (100) surface of bastnaesite, the natural crystal morphology, which is shown as a chiseled at edges hexagonal prism.

Al-Ce alloys designated by Aluminum Association

CMI developed alloys that have passed key commercial milestone, and have been accorded official designations by The Aluminum Association, opening the door to global industrial applications

Al-Ce alloy-based turbocharger compressor wheels from 6” to 0.3” produced by Additive Manufacturing using newly designated aluminum-cerium alloy.

Improved flotation of bastnaesite from ore promises greater rare earth output from mines

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines and Oak Ridge National Laboratory tested locked-cycle novel flotation collectors and recovered up to 78 percent of earth oxide with REO grades up to 69 percent

Flotation experiment, showing bastnaesite-rich froth

Forward-osmosis technology concentrates lithium chloride, enabling recovery from geothermal brine

CMI research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on energy-efficient concentration of lithium chloride recovered from geothermal brine