Duke is spearheading a major interdisciplinary initiative to address the growing demand for critical minerals that contain lithium and other elements essential to clean energy technologies and national security. With North Carolina emerging as a key player in the “Battery Belt,” thanks to its rich lithium deposits and expanding battery manufacturing sector, Duke researchers are working to build a resilient domestic supply chain. To tackle the complex challenges surrounding mineral extraction, processing and sustainability, Duke faculty formed the Critical Minerals Intellectual Community. Led by civil and environmental engineering professor Leanne Gilbertson, the group spans engineering, environmental science and policy disciplines.
The group’s goal: to develop a comprehensive framework for managing the full lifecycle of critical minerals and reducing long-term dependence on imports. A symposium held during Duke’s Energy Week in November 2024 brought together university researchers, students, industry leaders and government agencies including the Department of Defense and U.S. Geological Survey. The event sparked new collaborations and identified opportunities for student internships, capstone projects and data sharing. Building on this foundation, Duke’s new Critical Minerals Hub will receive three years of internal funding to expand research and education efforts. The hub, co-lead by Gilbertson and Avner Vengosh, distinguished professor of environmental quality at the Nicholas School of the Environment, will focus on sustainable mining practices, recovery of minerals from unconventional sources, and development of alternative materials. READ MORE.
Photo: Lithium mine in the North Carolina piedmont. Photo by Gordon Williams.