Amine functionalized graphene oxide yields laminates with an enhanced capacity to adsorb rare earth elements, improved water transport, and greater stability for effective membrane-based separation of critical minerals.

Five PNNL innovations earned 2026 R&D 100 Awards for advances in biotechnology, manufacturing, critical minerals, and nuclear security.

Replacing commercial acid with acidic waste enables researchers to improve nickel extraction efficiency, lower projected costs, and improve process economics.

Localized gradients in magnetic fields have long-range effects on the concentration of rare earth ions in solution, facilitating field-driven extraction of critical minerals.

Studying a series of rare earth element compounds revealed differences in their magnetic behavior that will be leveraged for separations.

Soil mineral preferentially incorporates rare earth elements based on size, with implications for critical mineral extraction.

The Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy acting assistant secretary makes his first visit to a national laboratory in his new role, touring PNNL's Radiochemical Processing Laboratory.

PNNL researchers review ceramic-metal composite technology for immobilizing radioactive wastes from nuclear reactors, including advanced reactors.

PNNL researchers use chemometric analysis to model chemistry in molten salt.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes molten salt test reactor project in Tennessee.

Bradley Crowell with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sees advanced materials integrity, radiological measurement, and environmental capabilities on his first visit to PNNL.

Advancing the science of radiation, especially among students at minority-serving institutions, is the goal of one of the Department of Energy’s newest consortia.

PNNL scientists developed new capabilities to study materials under extreme conditions.

PNNL paper in Nuclear Technology journal unveils modeling possibilities for TRISO used fuel, implications for reactor planning, and resulting carbon-free nuclear energy.