Critical Materials Institute

The Critical Materials Institute is a U.S. DOE Energy Innovation Hub led by Ames Laboratory that seeks to accelerate innovative scientific and technological solutions to develop resilient and secure supply chains for rare-earth metals and other materials critical to the success of clean energy technologies.

CMI selects four projects through OIP process

Focus Areas

Diversifying Supply

Developing Substitutes

Driving Reuse and Recycling

Crosscutting Research

News & Highlights

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In the News

Department of Energy Critical Materials Institute selects four projects to support critical materials supply chain innovation

News Release

Critical Materials Institute names four projects to support innovation in the nation’s critical materials supply chain

$Intra-granular fracture mechanism in Sm-Co$ Research Highlight

Microstructural engineering for tougher Nd-Fe-B magnets

Unit cell of LaFe12O19 hexaferrite. The five nonequivalent Fe sites are octahedral (2a), bipyramidal (2b), tetrahedral (4f1), octahedral (4f2), and 12k. The three- and six-fold local axis are parallel to the hexagonal axis c of the crystal, which is also the easy axis of magnetization.

Research Highlight

Large magnetic anisotropy in lanthanum M-type hexaferrites

Research Highlight

Rare-earth magnet powder produced under applied field

CMI Speeds Innovation

150

Invention Disclosures

R&D 100 Awards

U.S. Patents

Licensed Technologies

Learn more about our public-private partnerships

The Critical Materials Institute focuses on technologies that make better use of materials and eliminate the need for materials that are subject to supply disruptions.

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Going from an idea to a licensed technology in just two years is exactly what CMI is intended to do, and we've proven we can do it.
”

Alex King

CMI Founding Director