Critical Minerals & Materials: Chemical and Materials Sciences Research on Rare Earth and Platinum Group Elements

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The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program announces its interest in receiving applications from single investigators and multi-disciplinary teams to support experimental and theoretical research to advance chemical and materials sciences relevant to the following: Critical minerals – the natural resource for obtaining critical elements; Critical elements – atomic elements that are subject to supply risks and are incorporated in critical materials; and Critical materials – substances that provide essential functionality in key technologies and have no easy substitutes. Critical elements play a central role in both critical minerals and critical materials. These elements influence the mineral properties as well as the mechanisms of incorporation and extraction of the critical elements. They also dictate the properties that control the function of critical materials, including both molecules and materials, used in a broad range of technologically important and energy relevant applications. These properties include superconductivity, magnetism, quantum phenomena, light generation, magnetocaloric behavior, and catalytic activity. This FOA is focused on gaining an understanding of the fundamental properties and mechanisms of critical minerals, elements, and materials to improve separation and extraction processes and to enable discovery and design of alternates to critical materials that reduce or eliminate the need for critical elements. Thus, this fundamental knowledge will support the DOE strategy to diversify supply, develop substitutes, and improve reuse and recycling of critical minerals and materials. While multiple elements have been identified as critical based on their availability and technological importance, this funding opportunity is restricted to basic research related to rare earth and platinum group elements.

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