Publications

Aug, 2026

ORNL Report

Materials Used in U.S. Wind Energy Technologies: Quantities and Availability for Two Future Scenarios

Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of renewable energy. The Biden administration’s decarbonization goals (i.e., carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2035 and netzero economy by 2050) will require at least a threefold increase in the U.S. wind energy deployment rate from current average levels of 10 gigawatts/year (United States Department of State and the Un…

Aug, 2026

Journal

Binder-Free Graphite Anodes for Next-Generation High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

High-energy density anodes are crucial for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) particularly for electric vehicle (EV) applications. Sluggish lithium-diffusion kinetics coupled with conventional anode fabrication processes containing polymeric binders hinder fast-charging capabilities and high-energy density of graphite. Herein, we introduce a binder-free graphite…

Jun, 2026

Journal

Mining waste-driven carbon capture via ocean alkalinity enhancement

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate ocean acidification and reduce global warming. Traditional metal (e.g., critical materials) mining industries release alkaline waste via mining tailings with high concentrations (99.2%) of calcium and magnesium oxide (CaO, MgO). Incorporating mining waste into OAE processes is less energy in…

Apr, 2026

Journal

Efficient Low-Temperature Direct Lithium Extraction from Chloride Brines Enabled by High-Capacity Sorbent

The demand for lithium, a key component in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems, has surged in recent years. Meeting this demand requires efficient extraction methods that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable. This study investigates the utilization of the high-capacity sorbent amorphous aluminum hydroxide f…

Feb, 2026

Journal

Process design for recovering rare-earth elements from mine tailings with low rare-earth concentrations via sequential leaching and solvent extraction

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for advanced technologies and yet face significant supply chain risks due to their concentrated global production and limited domestic availability. Addressing this challenge requires efficient processes capable of upgrading low-grade secondary resources such as mine tailings. In this study, we developed a novel separation flowsheet…

Nov, 2025

Journal

Mechanism of Lithium Ion Exchange Into Spinel Manganese Oxide

Lithium manganese oxide (LMO) is an effective absorbent for lithium recovery from brines, characterized by its high adsorption capacity, excellent regeneration performance, and selectivity. This study investigates the mechanisms of material degradation during lithium loading and unloading in LMO, employing a combination of time-resolved Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractio…

Nov, 2025

Journal

New directions and principles for solvent extraction for recovery of lithium from aqueous brines and mineral leachates: A brief review

Increasing demand for lithium for manufacturing of batteries is fueling the unprecedented search for improved recovery and alternative sources. Wider source distribution, lower energy consumption, and greater sustainability make extraction of lithium from brines, both natural and process-derived, an attractive alternative to mineral ores. Solvent extraction, used industria…

Oct, 2025

Journal

Multilayered Cu-Carbon Nanotube Composites for Advanced Conductors

Improving the efficiency of electrical components is critical in reducing energy consumption for various industrial and residential applications, ranging from rotating machinery to all electric devices and electric vehicle (EV) components to power grid systems. Substituting Cu wires with reduced resistance conductors that incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into Cu─ultraco…

Oct, 2025

Journal

Pyrolysis in Molten Salts Converts Plastics into a Mesoporous Electrocatalyst with a High Density of Atomic Fe–N–C Active Site

Upcycling plastic waste into value-added products is a promising strategy for both economic and environmental sustainability. However, achieving control over structure–property correlations during the upcycling process remains challenging. Here, we investigate the modulation of active site formation during pyrolytic conversion of plastics to carbon by composition-controlle…

Oct, 2025

Journal

Experiments in 3D Printing Electric Motors

This paper catalogues a series of experiments we conducted to explore how to 3D print a DC electric motor. The individual parts of the electric motor were 3D printed but assembled by hand. First, we focused on a rotor with soft magnetic properties, for which we adopted ProtoPastaTM, which is a commercial off-the-shelf PLA filament incorporating iron particles. Second, we f…

Oct, 2025

ORNL Report

4.3.1.1 TCF: Recovery of Lithium from Geothermal Brine with Lithium-Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide Chloride Sorbents

Sep, 2025

Journal

Synthesis and Characterization of Metastable Cobalt Honeycomb KCoAsO4

The Kitaev model has served as a long-sought-after target in the realization of a quantum spin liquid that could host Majorana Fermions. Such non-Abelian anyons could revolutionize quantum computing if properly implemented to overcome decoherence. A 3d7 electronic configuration, like Co2+, has been explored by theory and experimental work to design Kitaev materials. Here,…