Articles tagged with Rare Earth Elements
A four-year project has produced a blueprint for transforming digital healthcare into a circular system, keeping products and materials longer in use. The Digital Health in the Circular Economy project recommends redesigning healthcare systems to deliver greater environmental benefits, with changes across clinical workflows, product de...
A Worcester Polytechnic Institute-led research team aims to recover valuable resources from industrial waste using biomolecules and organic scaffolds. The project could transform large volumes of waste into marketable products, reducing reliance on newly mined resources and lowering environmental footprints.
Chemists at the University of Iowa have isolated terbium in an atypical state under non-lab conditions, opening up new avenues for its use in quantum technologies and advanced sensors. The breakthrough method could also enable the efficient separation of other rare-earth metals, expanding their applications.
The Genesis Mission aims to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, scientific discovery and national security through AI-powered research. Texas A&M University has joined the initiative, contributing to a unified discovery platform connecting government, industry, academia and philanthropy.
Scientists have developed a new approach to purify rare earth elements using atomic channels, separating them from each other without the need for toxic chemicals. The method has been shown to be competitive with existing separation methods and can differentiate similar pairs of rare earth elements.
Brazil needs to build separation and refining facilities, master permanent magnet production, and address environmental risks. The country's capacity to meet global demand for rare-earth magnets is currently only around 6%.
A deep learning model combines knowledge from different catalyst families to identify a top-performing green hydrogen catalyst. The AI correctly predicted the activity ranking of 12 tested catalysts within a previously unexplored material family.
The FutuRaM project mapped Europe's 'urban mine', revealing a vast reservoir of metals and minerals essential for clean energy, digital technologies, and modern industry. By 2050, recovery systems could enable the EU to recover between 4.1 and 5.7 million tonnes of critical raw materials annually.
Researchers from Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences mapped CO2-rich igneous rocks, finding their distribution is strongly tied to variations in Earth's lithosphere. The findings could guide the search for new rare earth deposits, particularly along the edges of thick and ancient continents.
Researchers found that atoms on certain gold surfaces naturally rearrange themselves into protective patterns that suppress reactions with oxygen. This discovery helps explain why gold jewelry and objects can remain untarnished for centuries.
The study demonstrates a significant improvement in red light emission from Eu-doped gallium nitride grown on a semipolar crystal plane. The approach selectively promotes the formation of highly efficient luminescent centers, resulting in brighter and more stable red LEDs for next-generation micro-LED displays.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have developed an eco-friendly solid-phase extraction process to recover critical raw materials from NdFeB magnets. The method uses organic methanesulfonic acid, achieving a high recovery rate of over 96% and purity of over 99%.
Researchers predict that increased production will pose supply problems for certain raw materials like neodymium-praseodymium and carbon fibers. To mitigate these risks, they recommend piggybacking off existing capacity from industries like electric vehicles and designing robots with recyclable materials.
Researchers developed a new method to recover critical minerals using simple magnets, which streamlines the process while reducing energy consumption. The technique exploits small differences in magnetic susceptibility to drive selective transport and separation.
Researchers have developed a technique to detect and measure the concentration of rare-earth elements in plants without destroying them. The method uses fluorescence spectroscopy to distinguish between autofluorescence from plant matter and rare-earth element uptake.
The University of Utah has launched a new Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals (ICSM) to address the US's growing reliance on foreign critical minerals. The institute aims to expand sustainable, domestic sources and production of critical minerals through education, workforce development, and cutting-edge research.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered that crushed oyster shells can capture and remove rare earth elements from polluted water. The shells trigger a chemical reaction that converts dissolved metals into solid mineral crystals, making them an effective tool for environmental cleanup.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to recover nearly all critical minerals from spent lithium-ion batteries, including metals like lithium and graphite. The process uses microwave-induced plasma treatment with room-temperature solvents, resulting in high recovery rates and minimal environmental impact.
A new US-based method using engineered yeast produces oxalic acid, enabling efficient and sustainable recovery of rare earth elements. The process extracts almost all the rare earth elements from low-grade ore with high efficiency.
Researchers have identified a field of tektites in Brazilian territory, which may have been formed by a single cosmic collision event. The geraisites, named after the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais where they were first discovered, have distinct geochemical signatures and date back approximately 6.3 million years.
A new catalyst enables efficient and stable electrosynthesis of ethylamine at industrial scale, overcoming long-standing challenges in selectivity loss and instability. The developed method supports continuous energy-efficient production of EA using electricity and water.
A new regenerator material composed solely of copper, iron, and aluminum can achieve cryogenic temperatures without using rare-earth metals or liquid helium. The material utilizes a special property called frustration found in magnetic materials to demonstrate practical-level performance.
A new study from the Stockholm School of Economics shows how growing rivalry between major powers is pushing firms to rethink their sourcing, production capacity, and supplier relationships. Companies are diversifying suppliers, reducing dependence on single countries for critical inputs, and relocating or duplicating production to dif...
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a new way to harness the properties of tungsten carbide as a catalyst for producing valuable chemicals and fuels. The method, which involves carefully manipulating tungsten carbide particles at the nanoscale level, has shown promising results in reducing costs and increasing eff...
The University of Birmingham has launched a new facility for separating and recycling rare earth magnets, reducing the UK's reliance on imports. The facility uses an innovative hydrogen-based process that can recover over 400kg of rare earth alloy per batch.
Researchers at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf discovered new peptides with high affinity for rare earth elements, which could lead to sustainable recycling methods. The study also found that rare earth elements may have played a key role in the emergence of early life on Earth, moderating chemical reactions in prebiotic scenarios.
Researchers at AIMR discovered that Europium substitution in Cu2O catalysts allows for selective control of electrochemical CO2 reduction products. By leveraging the Eu3+/Eu2+ redox couple, they demonstrated how subtle changes in electronic structure can favor either C-C coupling or deep hydrogenation.
Critical raw materials are projected to grow from 1 million tonnes in 2022 to between 1.2 and 1.9 million tonnes by 2050. Europe can recover more of these essential materials by improving collection, design, and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
A new gas-solid separation method promises cleaner and cheaper recycling of critical elements. The technique uses flash Joule heating to extract REEs in seconds without water or acids, achieving over 90% purity and yield for REE recovery.
The University of Pittsburgh has received prestigious R&D World 100 Awards for two emerging technologies: VulcanAlloy and eMission Critical Sensor. These innovations can withstand high temperatures continuously approaching 500 degrees Celsius and identify rare earth elements in waste streams or feedstocks, respectively.
Researchers develop redox-adaptive auto-tandem catalysis using cerium to perform multiple reaction steps in a single container. This method reduces overhead and energy requirements, leading to lower costs and reduced chemical waste.
Researchers at University of California - Santa Barbara develop a new filter that can extract rare earth elements from end-of-life products like electronic waste. The technique combines solid-state extraction with precision chemistry to create a simple and environmentally attractive process, increasing the concentration of REEs fourfold.
Scientists use argon plasma to disperse and guide metal atoms to desired positions, reducing waste and maximizing the use of rare metals. The method allows for the creation of ultra-thin single-layer metal clusters with precise control over atom placement, enabling efficient catalysis in green technologies.
Researchers from UK and Canada will study ways to reduce mining's environmental footprint and enhance efficiency across critical mineral value chains. The project aims to develop new geological models and exploration tools for rare earth element deposits, aiming to diversify the supply chain and ensure high environmental standards.
A new method of separating rare earth elements from used neodymium magnets has been developed, allowing for environmentally friendly purification without organic solvents or toxic substances. The process is adaptable for other rare earths found in neodymium magnets and has the potential to influence various industrial sectors.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a new method to recover rare earth elements from old electronics, such as tablets and phones, using solid-phase extraction technology. This method aims to reduce energy use, cut down on solvents, and streamline the process, making it more environmentally friendly and commercially viable.
A new study reveals that magnetar flares could be a potential source of heavy elements in the universe. By analyzing archival data and observations of magnetar flare events, researchers estimate that up to 10% of heavy elements like gold, uranium, and platinum may come from these cosmic explosions.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed an artificial membrane channel that can selectively transport middle rare earth elements, such as europium and terbium, while excluding other ions. This breakthrough could increase domestic supply and decrease reliance on costly imports.
The UTA-UT Austin team will use AI, quantum simulations, and experimental techniques to develop magnets that eliminate rare-earth elements. The researchers aim to enhance U.S. energy security and accelerate sustainable energy solutions with comparable magnetic properties.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new type of back-contact solar cell design using perovskite material and tiny grooves in plastic film. The technology enables scalable, low-cost manufacturing and avoids expensive rare earth metals, making it sustainable and affordable.
The University of Texas at Arlington is developing more efficient processes for sourcing rare earth elements needed to produce high-performance magnets. The project aims to make the mining of these critical materials more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective.
New research from Macquarie University identifies the probable locations and mechanisms of accumulations of critical metals at the margins of old cores of continents. These areas have been found to contain more sulfur and copper than elsewhere on the continents, making them potential targets for future exploration activities.
The study proposes a strategy to use spinel oxides, particularly those involving rare-earth cerium substitution, to improve the oxygen evolution reaction. The team found that adding Ce promotes the lattice oxygen pathway, leading to highly active spinel oxide catalysts for electrochemical reactions.
A new study by University of Texas at Austin researchers has found a significant cache of rare Earth elements hidden inside US coal ash waste. The study estimates that there could be 11 million tons of accessible rare earth elements in the US coal ash supply, which is nearly 8 times the current domestic reserves.
A team of researchers at Argonne National Laboratory has proposed a new type of optical memory that uses quantum defects to store data. By embedding rare-earth emitters in a solid material and transferring energy between them, the researchers aim to create an ultra-high-density storage method that could potentially exceed current limits.
A new recycling process reduces environmental impact by eliminating energy-intensive methods, producing harmful waste streams. The innovative technique recovers critical metals with high purity (>95%) and yield (>85%), addressing critical metal shortages and negative environmental impacts.
Researchers have discovered that iron-rich extinct volcanoes are up to 100 times more efficient at concentrating rare earth metals than active volcanoes. This finding suggests that these ancient volcanoes could be studied for their potential to contain rare earth elements, which are crucial for renewable energy technologies.
A new visible-light antenna ligand enhances samarium-catalyzed reactions, reducing Sm usage by up to 98% and enabling mild conditions. The study provides valuable insights for developing efficient Sm-based catalysts.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have created a cleaner way to separate rare-earth elements from complex mixtures. They designed sponges that selectively absorb one metal while excluding others, with the potential to improve purification processes globally.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study promethium, a rare and radioactive element. The team successfully observed promethium form chemical bonds with neighboring oxygen atoms in an aqueous solution, providing new insights into its complex chemistry.
A team of researchers led by UC Santa Barbara's Justin Wilson has developed a technique to purify certain rare earth elements at room temperature using optimized chelators. This new process can concentrate dysprosium by a factor of over 800, compared to less than 10 for the industry standard.
Scientists have successfully synthesized a new SmFe-based magnetic compound, exhibiting superior intrinsic magnetic properties compared to traditional NdFeB compounds. The compound's high magnetization and anisotropy field make it suitable for electric vehicle applications without the need for critical rare-earth elements.
Researchers from Tokyo Tech have discovered a material with exceptionally high proton conductivity and thermal stability, paving the way for more durable fuel cells. The new electrolyte enables fast proton diffusion and chemical stability at intermediate temperatures.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a novel method for forming bastnåsite, a crucial mineral in extracting rare earth elements. The study reveals that fluocerite can act as a 'seed' to promote the rapid formation of bastnåsite, with significant implications for efficient and cost-effective extraction methods.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin discover that eggshell waste can effectively absorb and separate rare earth elements from water, offering a new environmentally friendly method for their extraction. The innovative approach could help meet growing demand for rare earth elements while reducing environmental harm.
Scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new way to produce ammonia, an essential fertilizer and component of cleaning products, using rare-earth metals as catalysts. The process operates at ambient conditions, reducing energy consumption and promoting food security.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin unveil a deeper understanding of bastnäsite and rare earth carbonates' formation, influenced by multiple factors including temperature, time, and host grain solubility. This discovery could reshape the tech industry's reliance on rare earth elements.
Researchers have discovered concentrated rare earth elements in coal mines and adjacent formations in Utah and Colorado. The findings could enable the extraction of these critical minerals from domestic sources, supporting the transition to renewable energy.
The project aims to extract and concentrate rare earth elements from domestic coal-based acid mine drainage, producing high-purity materials for magnet and super alloy applications. The goal is to establish a 100% domestic supply chain, reducing U.S. reliance on foreign suppliers.
Researchers at RIKEN have improved the stability of a green hydrogen production process by using a custom-made catalyst, increasing its lifetime by almost 4,000 times. The breakthrough uses earth-abundant materials, making it more sustainable and potentially cost-effective for widespread industrial use.