The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
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World's first manufacturing plant for rare-earth-free magnets opening in Minneapolis. Approximately 90% of the world's industrial permanent magnets are produced in China, leaving the supply chain open to significant disruption with environmental, economic, or national security risks. Permanent magnets containing neodymium and other rare earth elements are essential components in a wide variety of technologies and industries, including MRI machines, electric vehicles, wind...
A new factory has been constructed to extract gold from circuit boards found in everyday e-waste. The Royal Mint has committed to recovering high-purity gold from e-waste, unveiling a newly constructed 3,700 square-meter factory in South Wales pledged to reduce dependence on new material mining and support more sustainable industry practices. "We are transforming our business for the future – expanding into areas which complement our expertise in precious metals, champion s...
Argonne National Lab, UChicago scientists develop theory on storing data with light, rare earths, and quantum defects. Imagine trying to fit the contents of the entire internet into a single grain of sand - a seemingly impossible task. Yet, recent research suggests that such a thing could soon be possible in digital memory storage, using light and engineered materials to vastly increase data density beyond today's quickly shrinking limits. The evolution of electronic storage...
Funding supports deconversion essential for nuclear fuel supply chain. Amid growing efforts to secure a reliable domestic nuclear fuel supply, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded contracts to six companies as part of an $800 million initiative to bolster the deconversion of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), a critical component of the supply chain for advanced nuclear reactors. Over the past few years, the U.S. has been actively working to elevate nuclear energy...
From natural disaster recovery to sustainable solutions, Redwood leads the charge in active battery recycling. As natural disasters and major accidents become more frequent, Redwood Materials Inc. steps in to ensure that lithium-ion batteries, often damaged in these events, are safely recovered and recycled, preventing further harm to affected communities and the environment. In just a few short years, Redwood has grown from a small recycling startup into a critical player in...
California's SoHyCal project will be the largest hydrogen generator driven completely by North American renewable energy. Nearly all hydrogen refueling stations in the continental U.S. are situated in California, the only state with hydrogen infrastructure. However, a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) sales slump hit hard this year, with less than 100 hydrogen-powered cars sold countrywide in the second quarter compared to 1,094 in the same period last year – a 91% d...
Rio Tinto CEO and others urge Western governments to speed up clean energy transition, citing exemplary Chinese achievements. Though the Western world may not agree with China's political and international trade policies, Beijing saw the writing on the wall nearly two decades before the rest of the world and took major steps to be the first and greatest power in the green energy transition – both as a buyer and supplier of critical minerals and as a top maker of key energy t...
Researchers use subatomic particles to examine and improve 3D-printed superalloys for nuclear, aerospace, automotive, and other industries. As industries push for stronger materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions, researchers are turning to advanced metal 3D printing and atomic-level analysis to create superalloys designed to endure the harsh environments that future technologies may find themselves in. Alloys are created by blending two or more metals to achieve...
The secret to serving up the perfect sodium-ion battery is to slow-cook the cathode and microwave the anode. On the heels of an Argonne National Laboratory discovery that demonstrates slow heating is the secret to more durable and longer-lasting sodium-ion battery cathodes, a research team at the Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) found that the best way to prepare the anode material is to stick it in the microwave...
Built and deployed in space, new plasma rockets that burn metals could power long-range spacecraft. The Super Magdrive – a seminal technology and namesake of its British-based space tech startup, Magdrive, can use any metal, including iron, as a fuel source to power long-range spacecraft farther for longer. These new bullet-shaped thrusters can technically be infinitely refueled on the go by the metals from mining asteroids, comets, and other space resources. The new t...
Various methods, such as using bacteria, can remove elements like selenium from water; a new test using specialized light verifies the effectiveness of these solutions. Heather Shrimpton, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Waterloo, and her team are on the hunt for selenium, a naturally occurring nutrient with a nasty habit of causing neurological problems, infertility, and death at higher concentrations. Selenium a...
DOE backs company for more domestic battery supply, enhancing U.S. electrification and critical material supply chain resilience. Further solidifying its role in North America's circular battery metals supply chain as the world shifts to electrification, American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has been awarded a $150 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to construct a second commercial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility. In the fall of 2023,...
Researchers from Texas A&M and Sandia National Labs develop 3D-printed joints that adapt to stress, temperature, and movement for stronger structures. In a move that could reshape industries from aerospace to biomedical engineering, researchers from Texas A&M University and Sandia National Laboratories have developed 3D-printed nickel-titanium alloys with shape memory capabilities, paving the way for stronger, more adaptable structures without the need for traditional nuts...
Creates world's first glowing jewels, merging art with groundbreaking science and rare earths. What if a crystal could capture light by day and glow through the night? Thanks to the efforts of a jeweler-turned-scientist, they may have just uncovered that secret, crafting a gemstone like nothing the world has ever seen. What started as a jeweler's curiosity about lab-grown crystals has now transformed into a full-blown scientific breakthrough. After years of experimentation,...
Argonne National Lab scientists discover method to prevent cracks in sodium-ion battery cathodes, increasing lifespan. A breakthrough from Argonne National Laboratory may have paved the way for a new era of affordable, sustainable sodium-ion batteries. As the global push for clean energy accelerates, batteries have become essential for powering electric vehicles and storing renewable energy. While lithium-ion batteries remain the standard due to their high energy density and m...
H2020 SOLiDIFY consortium manufactures a powerful, inexpensive solid-state lithium battery. As the coordinator of the H2020 SOLiDIFY consortium, imec, together with 13 European partners, has announced the successful development of a high-performance lithium solid-state battery using a manufacturing process that is both cost-effective and compatible with existing lithium-ion production lines, making it a contender for commercial use – meaning prospective client manufacturers w...
New venture aims to recover critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries, reducing waste and carbon emissions while supporting sustainable development in Ontario. In a strategic move to tackle the environmental and supply chain challenges posed by battery waste, Electra Battery Materials Corp. and Indigenous-owned Three Fires Group have launched Aki Battery Recycling, a joint venture focused on producing black mass through responsible recycling of lithium-ion battery scrap....
Federal grant and state support Inflation Reduction Act-compliant EV battery material production. Mitra Chem, a leading innovator in battery materials, has been selected by the state of Michigan's Competitiveness Fund and U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) for up to $125 million in awarded funds to establish a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Muskegon, Michigan. MESC plays a critical role in catalyzing investments...
New partnership advances solid rocket motor production using 3D printing to meet growing defense and space demands. In a strategic effort to enhance national defense capabilities, Ursa Major Technologies Inc. has entered a $25 million partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to advance the production of solid rocket motors using additive manufacturing techniques. With a focus on solving some of the most pressing challenges in aerospace and defense, Ursa Major has...
PNNL researchers discover graphene works as scaffold for silk fibers; may contribute to next-gen bioelectronics. Once treasured for its luxurious feel, strength, and durability, silk is now poised to take on a cutting-edge role in electronics as scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have discovered how to combine its unique properties with graphene, unlocking the potential for flexible circuits that could revolutionize everything from biodegradable sensors to...
U.S. lithium production is ready to tap a massive aquifer that crosses six southern state lines. Global lithium consumption reached 180,000 metric tons in 2023, according to the United States Geological Survey, but the U.S. produces less than 1% of the world's supply. While most of the world's lithium still comes from countries like Australia, Chile, and China, the future of lithium production in the U.S. is ramping up in California, Nevada, and now Arkansas as companies like...
Automakers sign agreement to collaborate on vehicles, supply chain and clean energy tech. Two leading automotive companies have joined forces to target improved efficiencies and increased competitiveness through collaboration along lines of manufacturing and clean energy technologies. General Motors and Hyundai Motor Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore future collaboration across these key strategic areas as leading global OEMs – leveraging t...
DOD funds expansion of North America's only LFP plant, boosting energy security for EVs and energy storage. With a strategic push to strengthen domestic energy security, Nano One Materials Corp. has received a $12.9 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support the expansion of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathode production at its Candiac facility in Québec, positioning the company to bolster North America's critical battery materials supply chain....
Four-year project to improve price, safety, and domestic production of materials for lithium iron phosphate batteries. As part of efforts to improve electric vehicle battery safety, performance, and overall cost reduction, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corp. announced a four-year project to pioneer an eco-friendly lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cathode manufacturing technology together with Hyundai Steel and EcoPro BM, a battery materials research and development...
The USGS has developed tools to help companies and researchers find them all. United States Global Survey (USGS) reports have long demonstrated that while there is technically plenty of lithium found in the Earth's crust to meet demand, extracting this battery metal in the usual fashion (hard rock mining and brine evaporation) hasn't been very sustainable or cost-effective, requiring large amounts of energy, water, or infrastructure. The highest concentrations of lithium are...
