Articles tagged with "energy-materials"
New material boosts seawater uranium extraction by nearly 1000x
Researchers from Weifang University and North China Electric Power University have developed a novel material that dramatically improves uranium extraction from seawater, a breakthrough with significant implications for nuclear energy. The team created a new family of sulfonic covalent organic frameworks (S-COFs) engineered through a design concept called "stacking mode engineering." By precisely arranging the internal layers in an AB stacking mode, the material forms pockets that selectively bind uranium ions with four-point coordination, achieving a binding affinity about 1,000 times greater than traditional AA-stacked versions. In natural seawater tests, the AB-stacked S-COFs extracted 31.5 milligrams of uranium per gram of sorbent in just one day, the highest performance reported to date, while effectively rejecting competing ions like vanadium. This advancement addresses a critical challenge in nuclear energy: the limited availability and rising cost of land-based uranium reserves. Oceans contain nearly 4.5 billion tons of uranium, but its low concentration and
materialsnuclear-energyuranium-extractionseawatercovalent-organic-frameworksclean-energyenergy-materialsU.S. and Australia sign $3B critical minerals deal
The United States and Australia have signed a $3 billion agreement to jointly invest in critical minerals projects over the next six months, aiming to strengthen supply chains for essential materials. The total value of the project pipeline is estimated at $8.5 billion. A key component of the deal includes the U.S. Department of Defense funding a gallium refinery in Western Australia with a production capacity of 100 tons per year. This investment addresses U.S. reliance on gallium imports, which currently meet 100% of domestic consumption at about 21 tons annually. The move is partly a response to China's export restrictions on rare earth elements and other critical minerals used in electronics and electric motors. In addition to the minerals agreement, Australia has committed to purchasing $1.2 billion worth of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from the U.S. defense startup Anduril. It remains unclear whether this purchase is a new contract or part of a previously announced $1.12 billion program for delivering Ghost Shark
critical-mineralsrare-earth-elementsgalliumenergy-materialsautonomous-underwater-vehiclesdefense-technologyelectric-motorsChina tightens export controls on rare earth minerals once again
China has tightened its export controls on rare earth minerals and related mining and refining technologies, adding five more rare earth elements to its export control list, bringing the total to 12. The Commerce Ministry announced that foreign producers must now apply for export licenses if their products contain any Chinese-origin rare earth minerals or related technology. Defense organizations will be denied licenses, while semiconductor manufacturers will undergo individual reviews. Exemptions are made for exports intended for humanitarian aid, such as public health emergencies and disaster relief. As the world’s largest producer of rare earth minerals, China is leveraging these controls to safeguard national security amid increasing global competition in semiconductor manufacturing. This move mirrors recent U.S. export restrictions on chipmaking equipment aimed at limiting China’s technological advancements. The announcement follows Beijing’s April decision to add several rare earth minerals to its export control list in response to U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration, which had already caused significant global supply shortages. Rare earth minerals remain critical for industries including solar energy, electric vehicles
rare-earth-mineralsexport-controlssemiconductor-manufacturingenergy-materialselectric-vehicle-batteriessupply-chain-securityChina-trade-policyUS opens world-first self-driving robot lab for next-gen quantum tech
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed Rainbow, the world’s first multi-robot self-driving laboratory designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of quantum dots—semiconductor nanoparticles critical for future technologies like solar cells, LEDs, displays, and quantum devices. This autonomous system integrates multiple robots that prepare chemical precursors, conduct up to 96 simultaneous reactions using miniaturized batch reactors, and perform real-time optical analysis of the products. Guided by machine learning algorithms, Rainbow can independently design and execute up to 1,000 experiments daily, dramatically outpacing traditional human-led research and enabling rapid identification of optimal synthesis recipes based on user-defined target properties. Beyond speed, Rainbow offers deeper scientific insights by exploring a wider range of chemical precursors and ligand structures, which influence the quantum dots’ properties. This flexibility enhances the potential for discovering novel, high-performance materials and understanding the underlying reasons for their effectiveness. Importantly, the platform is designed to empower scientists by automating labor-intensive experimental tasks, allowing researchers
robotquantum-dotsself-driving-labAI-in-chemistrymaterials-discoverysemiconductor-nanoparticlesenergy-materialsNew laser helps decode rare earth element samarium’s secret spectrum
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz have developed an advanced laser-based technique, dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS), to uncover previously unknown atomic transitions in the rare earth element samarium. This method builds on the 2005 Nobel Prize-winning optical frequency comb technology and uses two synchronized comb lasers to measure atomic spectra across a broad electromagnetic frequency range with high resolution and sensitivity. By employing multiple photodetectors to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, the team achieved ambiguity-free, high-precision measurements, enabling the detection of weak spectral signals that were previously difficult to resolve. The research revealed several new samarium absorption lines, highlighting the technique’s capability to expose hidden atomic properties. Samarium is vital for manufacturing high-performance samarium-cobalt permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines, making these findings significant for both fundamental physics and applied materials science. This work also lays the foundation for “Spectroscopy 2.0,” a next-generation, massively parallel spect
materialsrare-earth-elementssamariumdual-comb-spectroscopyatomic-spectroscopypermanent-magnetsenergy-materialsMIT study could help predict graphite lifespan in nuclear reactors
A recent MIT study has advanced understanding of how graphite, a critical material in nuclear reactors, behaves under radiation. Graphite is widely used as a neutron moderator and reflector in reactors, playing a key role in sustaining controlled nuclear chain reactions. However, radiation exposure causes graphite to deform through swelling, shrinking, and cracking, complicating predictions of its lifespan. The MIT team applied a statistical method called the Weibull Distribution alongside X-ray scattering techniques to analyze irradiated graphite samples from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Their research revealed unexpected pore behavior: initially, pores fill as graphite degrades, but over prolonged irradiation, a recovery or annealing process occurs where new pores form and existing pores smooth and enlarge, influencing the material’s volume changes. This discovery sheds light on graphite’s complex composite structure—comprising crystalline filler particles, a less crystalline binder matrix, and pores ranging from nanometers to microns—that affects its radiation response. The study’s findings could lead to more accurate, non-destructive predictions of graphite’s
materialsgraphitenuclear-reactorsradiation-damagematerial-lifespancomposite-materialsenergy-materialsHow China’s CHSN01 super steel could shrink fusion reactors, cut costs
China has developed a new high-strength steel alloy, CHSN01, designed to revolutionize fusion reactor construction by enabling smaller, more cost-effective tokamaks. Traditional fusion projects like ITER have relied on cryogenic stainless steels such as 316LN, which have yield strengths limited to about 0.9–1.1 GPa at liquid-helium temperatures and lose ductility after repeated stress cycles. These limitations cap ITER’s magnetic field at 11.8 tesla and necessitate large, expensive reactor designs. In contrast, CHSN01 can withstand magnetic fields up to 20 tesla and combined electromagnetic stresses of 1.3 GPa, while maintaining about 30% ductility before breaking. It also retains these properties after 60,000 on/off cycles, matching the operational demands of China’s Burning-Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST). The alloy’s superior performance stems from precise chemical engineering: starting with a nitrogen-strengthened austenitic steel base (
materialssteelfusion-reactorssuperconducting-magnetscryogenic-materialshigh-strength-alloysenergy-materialsTough alloy tested at 1112°F to replace steel in nuclear reactors
Researchers at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) are investigating high entropy alloys (HEAs) as potential replacements for stainless steel in nuclear reactors, aiming to improve materials that withstand extreme heat and radiation. HEAs differ from conventional alloys by combining five or more metals in roughly equal atomic proportions, resulting in a stable solid solution with a distorted lattice structure that imparts unique properties such as high strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and radiation tolerance. The study focused on an HEA composed of iron, manganese, chromium, and nickel, chosen for its stability at high temperatures and manufacturability. Using the ultrabright synchrotron light at the Canadian Light Source, the team exposed the HEA to high-energy protons at 752°F (400°C) and 1112°F (600°C) under varying radiation doses. They observed the formation of small defects called Frank Loops, which increased with temperature, and noted elemental segregation within the alloy at higher temperatures. While the HEA demonstrated better
materialshigh-entropy-alloysnuclear-reactorsradiation-resistancesuperalloysenergy-materialscorrosion-resistance3D-printed steel endures month-long trial in extreme nuclear reactor
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have successfully tested 3D-printed capsules made from 316H stainless steel in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), one of the world’s most intense neutron flux environments. These capsules, produced using a laser powder-bed fusion additive manufacturing process, were designed to hold sample materials during irradiation experiments that simulate extreme nuclear reactor conditions. After a month-long irradiation period, the capsules remained fully intact, demonstrating that additively manufactured components can meet the stringent safety and performance standards required in nuclear environments. This milestone highlights the potential for additive manufacturing to revolutionize the production of critical nuclear reactor components by significantly reducing fabrication time and costs compared to traditional methods. The 316H stainless steel used offers high-temperature strength, corrosion and radiation resistance, and proven nuclear-grade weldability. The success of this test paves the way for broader adoption of 3D printing in nuclear materials and fuels research, enabling faster innovation and qualification of advanced reactor technologies. The
3D-printingstainless-steelnuclear-reactoradditive-manufacturingmaterials-testingirradiation-experimentsenergy-materialsUS, India, Japan, Australia unite to cut China’s mineral dominance
The United States, India, Japan, and Australia, collectively known as the Quad, have launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative aimed at reducing global dependence on China for critical minerals essential to modern technologies like electric vehicles, batteries, and semiconductors. The initiative seeks to secure and diversify supply chains amid concerns over China’s dominant position in key minerals, particularly graphite, which is vital for electric vehicle batteries. The announcement coincides with a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling a strategic pivot toward Asia by the U.S. administration and emphasizing the need for supply chain diversification to counter economic coercion and supply disruptions. While the Quad’s joint statement did not explicitly name China, it expressed serious concerns about provocative actions in the South and East China Seas that threaten regional peace and stability, underscoring the group’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the importance of regional autonomy and freedom
critical-mineralssupply-chain-diversificationelectric-vehicle-batteriesQuad-alliancematerials-securityenergy-materialssemiconductor-materialsRussia captures Europe’s richest lithium site spanning 100 acres
Russian forces have seized control of a significant lithium-rich site near the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Spanning about 100 acres, this site is among Europe’s largest lithium reserves, a mineral critical for electric vehicle batteries, aerospace alloys, energy storage, and electronics. Despite the village’s limited tactical value, the subsurface lithium resources hold growing strategic importance amid rising global demand driven by decarbonization and military modernization. The capture strengthens Russia’s hold over Ukraine’s natural resources and fits a broader pattern of targeting key industrial assets to undermine Ukraine’s economic recovery and future investment prospects. The seizure directly challenges a recent US-Ukraine bilateral agreement aimed at fostering investment in Ukraine’s critical mineral sector, including the Shevchenko deposit. This move complicates Western efforts to develop resilient, non-Chinese supply chains for battery-grade lithium and other essential minerals, which are vital for energy transition, defense manufacturing, and economic stability. By controlling this resource corridor, Russia enhances its
lithiumenergy-storageelectric-vehicle-batteriescritical-mineralsresource-controlindustrial-supply-chainsenergy-materials