Critical Materials Innovation Hub Research Highlights

Diversifying lithium supply, brines to hard-rock minerals: Mechanochemical and Vacuum-Induced Thermal Extraction of Lithium (MELLT/VITELiS)

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Infographic showing the VITELiS approach for Li-extraction from α-spodumene

Exclusive global license to Bayan for CMI-supported rare earth elements (REE) processing technologies

CMI researchers at Colorado School of Mines conducted the research for this highlight

Integrated Mines patent flowsheet for Mountain Pass–style bastnaesite ore, showing Bayan’s pathway from ore to high-value REE products with higher recoveries and lower reagent use.

Summer intern trained in ligand-lanthanide complexation

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

Sophia presents a poster highlighting her research accomplishments on the CMI project at the ORNL Summer Student Poster Event (Friday, August 1, 2025).

CMI establishes 24-stage mixer settler capability for critical material separations

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

Image of the mixer settler system installed in a ventilated enclosure within the radiological facility. The controllers are placed on top of the enclosure, and liquid feed/collection containers will be positioned beneath the work surface. The mixer settler units are accessible from all four sides via sliding doors.

NEAREST (Neutral Ligand-Based REE Separation Technology): scaling neutral-ligand REE separations with mixer settlers

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

Schematic illustration of the initial separation stages: pre-equilibration of the DGA-6 solvent with HCl, extraction of heavy REEs (HREEs), and scrubbing of the HREE-loaded DGA-6 with concentrated NaCl to remove co-extracted HCl and light REEs (LREEs). Further optimization of flow rates and mixing rates is underway. Subsequent steps include (1) selective extraction of Nd-Pr with La-Ce remaining in the raffinate, and (2) selective scrubbing to recover individual REEs from the HREE-loaded DGA-6 solvent.

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

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Room temperature M-H curve (2nd quadrant) for magnet made from the NdFeB powder (R07) prepared by Ca-RD route,

44 MG-Oe hot-roll-processed magnet

CMI researchers at Ames National Laboratory conducted the research for this highlight

Table shows magnetic properties of the NanoNeo magnet fabricated using the novel hot-roll method.

CMI technology wins DOE BOOST Award

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

CMI technology in electrochemical leaching and mentoring from CMI Project Lead Arindam Mukhopadhyay led to the award-winning presentation by HidrogeniCs Inc. Moha Shahjamali, CEO & Co-Founder, is shown receiving the first prize at the “DOE BOOST 2025 Showcase Pitch Event” held on December 11, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

DME-driven fractional crystallization pilot

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

series of images shows two gallon per minute DME Crystallizer at Coalinga site in California’s Central Valley “DME machine” gas cylinder, coriolis mass flow, and flash chamber. Two pictures of the salt that was extracted from the brines. EC cells used to separate various salts prior to DME crystallization. General site picture.

Synergistic and selective concentration of rare earth elements from the liquid to the solid phase

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

$CMI research is featured on the the front cover of the Dec 17, 2025, ChemSusChem, which illustrates the primary production (mining), capture from liquid byproduct, and recycling of rare earth elements (REEs) assisted by dimethyl-ether-driven fractional crystallization to produce solid salts. The associated research article notes how the process “leverages” the synergic use of sodium sulfate for multi-nine REE salt recovery and production of purified water containing single ppm concentrations of REE..$