The transition from fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy demands critical minerals, which were mostly formed as a result of water-rock interaction. Recently, my collaborators and I have embarked on a large DOE project on the thermodynamic and transport properties of rare earth elements to better inform the successful exploration of mineral resources. I have collaborated with colleagues and students on lithium ore deposits and potential environmental impacts. We are also developing projects on geochemical modeling of hydrogen gas production and storage in geological bodies.
Critical Minerals and Energy Transition
Potential Thesis Topics
Potential thesis topics include:
- The development of thermodynamic and kinetic databases for rare earth elements and other critical minerals using the 21st century computational and machine learning tools; and
- Geochemical modeling of H2-water-mineral interactions that are relevant to hydrogen production and storage.