Infinium Metals

About Infinium Metals

Infinium Metals, established in 2008 as Metal Oxygen Separation Technologies (MOxST) and rebranded in March 2013, is a development-stage company focused on commercializing new, zero-emission processes for producing and recycling critical metals. The company's founding technology was spun out of research from MIT and Boston University, with a mission to address the high pollution and energy intensity of conventional metal production, particularly for materials crucial to the clean energy and transportation sectors. The initial focus was on producing magnesium for lightweight automotive and aircraft components, and neodymium for high-performance magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicles.

The company's core technology is a form of molten salt electrolysis, which involves immersing metal oxides in a proprietary molten salt and running a current through it using a specialized ceramic electrode. This process is designed to produce high-purity metals with pure oxygen as the only byproduct, positioning it as a stark contrast to traditional methods that generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. Over the years, Infinium has demonstrated this process for a wide array of metals, including titanium, tantalum, dysprosium, and solar-grade silicon, targeting materials that are often supplied by a geographically concentrated and environmentally damaging supply chain. This technological approach offers clients in the automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy industries a path to secure a more sustainable and cost-effective materials supply.

Financially, Infinium Metals has been supported by a combination of venture capital and significant government funding, recognizing the strategic importance of its technology for both clean energy and national security. Notably, the company has received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E and EERE programs to scale up its processes, such as the MacGen1000 magnesium production system. This funding has been instrumental in advancing the company from laboratory-scale research toward commercial production, with the stated ambition of providing a Western alternative to the Chinese-dominated rare earth metals market.