Critical Materials Innovation Hub Research Highlights

Pseudocapacitive separation of REE from dilute sources

CMI researchers from the Idaho National Laboratory, Ames National Laboratory, and University of Idaho conducted the activity for this highlight.

bar chart with a trend line: Figure 2 – Stability and faradaic efficiency of electrode during adsorption and release cycles.

Mechanochemical extraction of lithium at low temperature (MELLT) from α-spodumenes

CMI researchers from Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight.

Flow diagram showing the industry standard processes and the MELLT approach for Li-extraction from α-spodumene

Resolving atomic structure of surface of bastnäsite

CMI researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight.

11th Japan-U.S. Bilateral Meeting on Rare Metals

CMI leaders conducted the activity for this highlight.

image of people standing in a row: Photo from Bilateral Meeting in Kyoto, December 11, 2023

Outreach & collaboration with wider critical materials community

CMI leadership conducted the activity for this highlight.

group of people in classroom-like setting: Panel discussion on materials need for sustainability sponsored by the Focus on Sustainability Subcommittee of the Materials Research Society in San Francisco, April 10-14, 2023.

Bigger is better: scaling lanmodulin column for higher purity

CMI researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight.

two line graphs: Testing the LanM separation process with REO (13% Dy of total REE content) generated from end-of-life Nissan Leaf motors. Dissolved (HCl; pH 1) REO solution was adjusted to pH 3 and applied to a 5 cm length (1 ml) or 20 cm length (8 ml) LanM column until ~70% capacity was achieved (immediately prior to breakthrough). The column was subjected to a two-step pH elution process (pH 2.1 and 1.5) and the Nd, Pr, and Dy concentrations were measured. The relative REE composition for each desorption

Tailored synthesis in nanoparticle permanent magnets (NPPMs)

CMI researchers from the Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight.

$line graph shows powder X-ray diffraction patterns$

CMI research drawing international attention

CMI researchers from the Ames National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Colorado School of Mines conducted the activity for this highlight.

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

CMI researchers from the Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight.

$line graph showing powder X-ray diffraction pattern of Nd2Fe14B powder produced by calciothermic reduction.$

Unlock the characteristics of phosphogypsum (PG)

CMI researchers from FIPR Institute, Florida Polytechnic University, Rutgers University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Florida International University conducted the activity for this highlight.

Size distribution of main components in PG