CMI researchers from Rutgers University conducted the activity for this highlight
Innovation
The OLI Systems, Inc. software package uses fundamental thermodynamics modeling to display the solubility and speciation of critical materials.
Achievement
- Current Chemicals faced a challenge with unwanted conversion of REE chlorides to REE oxychlorides when manufacturing at scale.
- Reliable solubility data are difficult to find.
- Thermodynamic team provided REE halide solubility data.
Significance and Impact
- Halides are starting compounds for electrochemical reduction.
- Oxychloride contamination can cause difficulties in scale up.
- Thermodynamic computations enabled strategic research decisions to avoid this contamination.
Hub Target Addressed
- Increasing the speed of discovery and integration.
- Developing and applying scientific tools to accelerate technology.
