Highlights
- Texas A&M researcher Dr. Jenny Qiu develops an innovative method to extract rare earth elements from electronic waste using carbon nanomaterials.
- Her technology aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign rare earth supplies by recycling less than 1% of current rare earth magnets.
- Potential to create a sustainable, domestic solution for recovering critical materials from old electronics like hard disk drives.
In a lab at Texas A&M, Dr. Jenny Qiu (opens in a new tab) is quietly leading a revolution—one circuit board at a time. As an associate professor of mechanical engineering, Qiu and her team are developing a game-changing way to extract rare earth elements (REEs) like neodymium from electronic waste (e-waste) using carbon nanomaterials. Her mission? To make the U.S. less dependent on foreign supply chains and to turn yesterday’s junk into tomorrow’s strategic supply.
Dr. Qiu was recently interviewed by Rare Earth Exchanges, and that interview was uploaded to YouTube (opens in a new tab).
Why This Matters
Despite vast potential, less than 1% of rare earth magnets used in the U.S. are recycled. Meanwhile, China dominates over 85% of the global rare earth supply. Dr. Qiu’s work takes direct aim at this imbalance—offering a cleaner, scalable, and potentially domestic solution that avoids the high cost, pollution, and red tape of traditional mining and chemical extraction.
Her innovation centers on solid-phase extraction using graphene-based 3D porous carbon structures—not harsh solvents or complex multistep processes. It’s compact, selective, low-waste, and cost-effective. And yes,it works—even when rare earth concentrations in e-waste are low.
The Target: Neodymium Magnets in E-Waste
Qiu’s research focuses on neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, the tiny powerhouses behind EV motors, wind turbines, data centers, and even Apple AirPods. One of her team’s richest sources? Old hard disk drives (HDDs)—a goldmine of critical materials hiding in plain sight. Qiu envisions a future where these materials can be routinely recovered, refined, and reinserted into the supply chain—all without digging a single new mine.
Patent-Protected and Industrial-Ready? Almost.
The Texas A&M team has already filed a provisional patent on their porous nanocarbon foam technology. While they’re still optimizing it for diverse e-waste streams, Qiu believes the tech is scalable. With support from Oak Ridge National Lab and industrial collaborators, she hopes to move from lab bench to pilot production in 12–24 months.
Why Isn’t This Already Everywhere?
Simple: traditional recycling methods are messy, inefficient, and generate secondary waste. Qiu and team’s approach circumvents that entirely. Still, scaling up requires a full industrial ecosystem—from e-waste collectors to magnet manufacturers—and Texas A&M is calling on public and private partners to join the movement.
Circular Economy, Tangible Future
The Texas A&M scientist is quick to credit her team and students, as well as the rising interest from the U.S. Department of Energy, which has ramped up funding for critical materials recovery. She’s not alone—but her team is among the first to merge advanced nanomaterials with REE recycling at this level of selectivity and sustainability.
In her own words: “We’re close. We’re going in the right direction. This is a promising way to solve the urgent need for rare earths in the U.S.”
What Happens Next?
A pilot program, increased collaboration, and—if industry catches up—a cleaner, more secure rare earth supply chain. Qiu’s lab is already attracting attention from private investors and government stakeholders alike.
You can follow her work through Texas A&M’s official lab website. And if you’re in the rare earth supply chain? Take note. Qiu’s 3D carbon foam might just be the magnet pulling America’s rare earth future back home.
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