Electrochemical Separation for Rare Earth Elements
Course Credit?
Yes - CHE498 optionalPaid Position?
NoFaculty
Qiang HuangDescription
Project Description: Rare earth elements (REEs) are a crucial component for most modern technologies including consumer electronics, medical equipment, defense systems, and green energies such as battery, fuel cell, and electric vehicles. Contrary to the name “rare earth”, REEs are indeed present in the earth crust at a moderate concentration, and some of them even have a concentration comparable to the commonly used copper. The real challenge in obtaining rare earth metals is the separation between the elements because they present very similar physio-chemical properties and are always bundled together in nature. This challenge persists as well when the recycling of REEs is concerned. The current processes used in REE separation are neither energy efficient nor environment friendly, holding up the operation of such industry in US. This poses significant risks to the technology development and economic growth of our nation. This project aims to study the electrochemical behavior of different REEs to enable a sustainable method to separate them. While the REEs have very similar electrochemical properties and they undergo reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions almost at the same time, their interaction with other additional metal elements can be drastically different. This project aims to provide a systematic study on how different REEs interact with different transition metals (TMs) during redox reactions and how to use these behaviors to separate them. The long-term goal of the project will be to enable an electrified continuous process to separate the REEs one from another, taking advantage of the selective electrochemical reduction of REEs with TMEs and enabling a reliable and environment friendly supply of REEs in US. Position Description: We are looking for 1 or 2 undergraduate researchers, preferably Sophomore or Junior, to start from Fall 2025. The researchers are expected to spend (averagely) 6 ~ 8 hours per week on research, including literature reading, experimental studies, data collection and analysis, as well as result presentation and discussion. If preferred, researchers can register for CHE 498 elective course for the research credits, but this is optional. Project timing: The researchers are expected to start from Fall 2025 and, preferably, continue for 3 or more semesters. Learning: Electrochemistry / electrochemical engineering is a foundation for almost all sustainable technologies in future. The researchers will learn about electrochemistry, materials science, and the hands-on experimental techniques. Researchers will also learn about various technologies involving rare earth and material characterization techniques used. Application: Please send your application with your resume to qhuang@eng.ua.edu. Please feel free to reach out for questions.