By Jorge E. Vidal
Special to Rice News
Rice University has entered into a research partnership with Locksley Resources Ltd., an Australian mineral exploration company, to accelerate the development of domestic antimony processing and next-generation energy applications.
The alliance focuses on creating scalable methods for extracting and utilizing antimony, a mineral critical to defense systems, electronics and energy storage. With the U.S. currently dependent on imports for nearly all refined antimony, the initiative addresses a critical national need.
“This strategic collaboration with Rice marks a pivotal step in executing Locksley’s U.S. strategy,” said Nathan Lude, chairman of Locksley Resources. “By fast-tracking our research program, we are helping rebuild downstream capacity through materials innovation that the country urgently requires.”
While Locksley contributes antimony-rich feedstocks and mining expertise, Rice brings decades of leadership in advanced materials and applied research, creating a partnership that spans the full supply chain.
“Developing scalable, domestic pathways for antimony processing is not only a scientific and engineering challenge but also a national strategic priority,” said Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Materials Science and Nanoengineering at Rice and principal investigator of the project. “By combining Rice’s expertise in advanced materials with Locksley’s resources, we can address a critical supply chain gap and build collaborations that strengthen U.S. energy resilience.”
The Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) is playing a central role in advancing this initiative. Lane Martin, director of RAMI, said the agreement underscores Rice’s commitment to translating research into solutions with global impact.
“This partnership aligns with our mission to lead in materials innovations that address national priorities,” Martin said. “By working with Locksley, we are helping to build a robust domestic supply chain for critical materials and support the advancement of next-generation energy technologies.”
Locksley will provide funding to support research focused on evaluating less invasive hydrometallurgical techniques for antimony extraction and exploring antimony-based materials for use in batteries and other energy storage applications. The project will leverage antimony-rich feedstocks from Locksley, an exploration and development project focused on extracting critical minerals, specifically antimony and rare earth elements, in California’s Mojave Desert.
This initiative builds on Rice’s long-standing leadership in materials science, strengthened by collaborations with government agencies and industry partners in the defense and energy sectors. By integrating upstream development with downstream innovation, the partnership creates a unique opportunity to establish a domestic “mine-to-materials” supply chain aligned with U.S. strategic priorities.