Summarizing the state of designed protein hybrid materials, researchers celebrate both the 50th anniversary of the MRS Bulletin and the 2025 Fred Kavli Distinguished Lecturers in Materials Science, Jim De Yoreo and David Baker.

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.

Specially designed histidine-containing peptoids mimic carbonic anhydrase to accelerate calcite step growth.

Imaging ice microstructures formed by water freezing with atomic resolution for the first time.

Tailored assemblies mimic natural enzyme activity with significantly higher stability.

In high-entropy oxides, chromium tends to segregate during growth due to oxidation-induced migration of smaller, high-valence cations.

Nanoscale domains of magnetically susceptible critical materials encounter enhanced magnetic interactions under external magnetic fields, providing a promising new avenue for separations.

This summer, PNNL hosted the inaugural “As Conductive As Copper” (AC2.0) workshop, fostering a collaborative conversation on the future of the U.S. copper supply chain.

Researchers developed a way to precisely control dopant structures and locations in carbon-based materials.

The size of graphene oxide sheets affects the ability of assembled membranes and adsorbents to separate rare earth elements.

Researchers developed a pathway for the solution synthesis of core–crown heterostructures with controlled electronic properties.

Under an optical field, nanoparticle attachment in a model system heavily depends on surface roughness.

Ampcera has an exclusive licensing agreement with PNNL to commercially develop and license a new battery material for applications such as vehicles and personal electronics.

A PNNL team has developed an energy- and chemical-efficient method of separating valuable critical minerals from dissolved solutions of rare earth element magnets.

Surface manganese mining from nodules in South Dakota is now possible with a new scalable selective precipitation process.

Chromium cations better adapt to changes in oxygen stoichiometry than iron cations.

Cobalt substitution for magnesium in a model mafic mineral dramatically slows reaction with carbon dioxide to form a cobalt-doped carbonate.

Using interfacial charge transfer to control cation charges in oxide superlattices offers insights for designing functional heterostructures.

PNNL's new energy storage facility now houses the Lab's vehicle battery research programs, which have more lab space and a slew of new capabilities.