Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced establishment of a new energy innovation hub for critical materials R&D. The Department of Energy will provide up to $20 million this year for a multidisciplinary effort to reduce US dependence on foreign sources of rare-earth elements and other materials needed for clean energy technologies. Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private companies are invited to compete to host the hub, and DOE is encouraging bidders to form partnerships for submitting proposals, due by 30 August.
The new center, which will be funded at up to $120 million over five years, will conduct research on mineral processing, the manufacture and efficient use of critical materials, and alternative materials and their recycling. Of particular interest to DOE are materials essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and efficient lighting. Specifically, those materials are used in permanent magnets, advanced batteries, thin-film semiconductors, and phosphors. Dysprosium, neodymium, terbium,...
