University of Utah Taking on the Rare Earth Element Supply Chain Disruption Mission

Highlights

• University of Utah researchers are developing innovative methods to extract rare earth elements and critical metals domestically.
• The project aims to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources, with 90% currently imported from China.
• Researchers are creating environmentally friendly extraction techniques to achieve 99.99% material purity for advanced technologies.

The University of Utah (opens in a new tab) is spearheading innovative research to address the United States' reliance on foreign sources for rare earth elements (REE) and critical metals (CM), essential for technologies such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. With 90% of these materials currently imported, researchers Mike Free (opens in a new tab) and Prashant Sarswat (opens in a new tab) have secured two major funding awards—$220,446 from DARPA and $5 million from the Department of Energy (DOE)—to develop environmentally friendly extraction and processing methods.

The team is working on refining REE and CM products to achieve purities of up to 99.99%. Their efforts involve a series of important activities including the following:

1. Innovative Separation Techniques:

• Using magnetic properties to physically separate REEs with advanced magnetic devices.
• Developing specialized solid materials coated with extractants like graphene for chemical separation, reducing reliance on toxic acids.

3. Collaborative Efforts:

• Partnering with Virginia Tech to optimize mineral enrichment and physical separations.
• Further purification and metal conversion processes are conducted within Utah's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

5. Focus on Purity:

• The research aims to produce ultra-high-purity materials for applications like semiconductors and lasers, where impurities can drastically affect device performance.

The project underscores national security concerns, as China supplies 90% of global REE and CM markets, leaving the U.S. supply chain vulnerable. The team's environmentally friendly methods aim to establish a domestic supply chain, increasing U.S. independence in these critical materials.

This groundbreaking work combines cutting-edge science with strategic importance, addressing both technological and economic challenges while supporting sustainable and secure material production for modern technologies.