Discovery, extraction, processing, recycling, and utilization of materials essential to energy security, economic competitiveness, and national resilience. This domain includes critical minerals and rare earth elements used in advanced energy systems, electronics, transportation, and defense applications, as well as the development of sustainable supply chains that reduce dependence on vulnerable sources. Topical examples include rare earth extraction and processing from conventional and unconventional sources, synthetic biology for mineral recovery, AI-guided chemistry for mineral refining, domestic magnet production, battery materials and next-generation chemistries, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced alloys and substitution strategies.

Key technology focus areas include:

Argonne National Lab (ANL) is the domain chair for Critical Materials and Minerals, and Advanced Manufacturing in the Cradle to Commerce program. 

Argonne National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where work in energy storage, fundamental physics, climate science, and supercomputing serves the United States’ needs in technological innovation, environment, and national security. Argonne’s research directorates contribute specialized expertise that supports the Department of Energy’s mission, expands scientific discovery, and addresses complex global challenges: through R&D on advanced energy technologies, computing, environment and life sciences, nuclear technologies, physical sciences, and photon sciences.