New processing methods could help ease looming shortages of the essential metals that power everything from phones to automotive batteries, by making it easier to separate these metals from mining ores and recycled materials. These processing methods could also cut costs and make the processes more sustainable by reducing both the amount of water used and the emissions of greenhouse gases associated with traditional processes. The general principle behind one approach is to extract the elements individually or in the form of alloys in the molten state in an electrolysis cell. Additional work in this research thrust includes using experiments, analytical theory, and computer simulations to explore the processing-structure-property relationships in structural metals.
