• Explain the importance of critical minerals and why they are crucial to explore.
• Describe the methods for extraction and processing of critical minerals.
• Explain the significant impact of critical minerals, advanced materials, and their applications.
• Discuss the potential of Indonesia to explore these minerals for downstream processing (hilirization) and industrialization using local resources.

This course is designed to analyze the critical minerals, properties of critical minerals, source of critical minerals, application of critical minerals, and extraction and recovery of critical minerals, regulation and their classification. Critical mineral is a metallic or non-metallic element that is essential for modern technologies, economies or national security, and has a supply chain at risk of disruption. The interplay between technological advancement and the imperative for sustainability has thrust critical minerals, such as cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), graphite (C) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), to the forefront of geoeconomic and strategic planning. These minerals form the core input of modern high-value Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) sectors, such as renewable energy, defense, and space, becoming increasingly indispensable in an era propelled by digital transformation and the shift towards green energy. Students will learn about the definition of critical minerals, properties of critical minerals, resources of critical minerals, potential resources of these minerals in Indonesia, how to extract and recovery of critical minerals, and supply chain for these minerals. On the other hand, students will learn about advanced materials, preparation of these materials and application of these materials. Advanced Materials are specifically engineered to exhibit novel or enhanced properties that confer superior performance relative to conventional materials.After completing this course, students are able to explain the crititical minerals, to classify the critical minerals, to explain the extraction and processing of critical minerals, to develop critical minerals for certain applications, such as catalyst, coating, energy storage, defense, high technology and other sectors.This achievement was achieved through several stages: (1) to understand the definition and classification of critical minerals; (2) to explain the resources of raw materials and Indonesia’s resources of critical minerals; (3) the extraction and processing of critical minerals; and (4) Writing literature reviews related to critical mineral and their applications. The language of instruction used is English. Media and learning modes: offline synchronous.

• Definition of Critical Minerals

  • Introduction to critical minerals and their importance in modern industries (e.g., electronics, energy, and defense)
  • Understanding the global demand for critical minerals and their role in sustainable development

• Extraction and Processing of Critical Minerals

  • Overview of extraction methods for critical minerals
  • Processing techniques to refine and purify minerals for industrial use

• Primary Extraction: Mining Directly from the Earth

  • Traditional mining methods: open-pit, underground mining, and environmental considerations
  • Techniques for extracting critical minerals from mineral deposits

• Secondary Sources: End-of-Life Electronics

  • Recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) for critical minerals recovery
  • Methods of reclaiming valuable minerals like gold, silver, and rare earth metals from used electronics

• Extraction from Unconventional Sources

  • Alternative sources for critical minerals:
    • Industrial wastes such as coal ash, tin slag, and low-grade bauxite
    • Potential recovery of critical minerals from unconventional resources like silica sand

• Potential of Indonesia to Explore These Minerals for Hilirization and Industrialization

  • Assessment of Indonesia’s mineral resources and their potential for industrial development
  • Strategies for using local resources to support hilirization (downstream processing) and industrialization
  • Economic and environmental benefits of developing critical mineral industries in Indonesia

• Definition of Advanced Materials

  • Introduction to advanced materials and their applications in high-tech industries
  • Key features that differentiate advanced materials from traditional materials

• Classification of Materials

  • Metals: Types of metals, properties, and applications
  • Polymers: Thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers in industrial use
  • Ceramics: Types of ceramics, advanced ceramics in electronics and aerospace
  • Composites: Definition and applications of composite materials in industries like automotive, aerospace, and construction

• Technologically Advanced Materials

  • Discussion of the latest advancements in materials science, including nanomaterials and biomaterials
  • Innovations in the development of high-performance materials for modern applications

• Methods for Production of Graphene

  • Top-Down Approach: Techniques such as exfoliation and lithography for graphene production
  • Bottom-Up Techniques: Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and other synthesis methods
  • CVD Process: Detailed discussion of the chemical vapor deposition method for graphene fabrication
  • Ball Milling from Reactants to Products: Mechanical methods for producing graphene from bulk graphite in chemical reactions

1. Ramesh T. Subramaniam, Ramesh Kasi, Shahid Bashir, Sachin Sharma, & Ashok Kumar, Graphene: Fabrication, Properties and Applications, Engineering Materials, Springer Link, 2023.
2. Yugal Kishore Mohanta, Kunal Biswas, Saurov Mahanta, & Saravanan Muthupandian, Graphene Based Nanomaterials Applications in Food, Agriculture and Healthcare, CRC Press, an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC., 2024.
3. Sophia Kalantzakos, New Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, In: Critical Minerals, the Climate Crisis and the Tech Imperium, Volume 65, Archimedes, 2023.
4. Alexander King, Critical Materials, Materials Today, Publisher: Matthew Deans, 2021.
5. Satyendra Mishra & Dharmesh Hansora, Graphene Nanomaterials: Fabrication, Properties and Applications, Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd., 2018.