With their unique ability to convert mechanical motion into electrical energy using magnets, Critical and rare earth elements hold a pivotal position in the world of electronics and find applications in areas such as smartphones, clean energy solutions like electric vehicles and wind turbines, and critical areas like space exploration and national defense, including GPS technology and jet engine development.
RENEWABLE (CLEAN) ENERGY
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical components in various renewable energy technologies due to their unique chemical properties, such as:
Wind Turbines: Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, are used to manufacture high-strength permanent compact magnets, essential in the direct-drive turbines and preferred for their efficiency and reliability over gear-driven alternatives. Thus, generating more electricity from the same amount of wind.
Solar Panels: Dysprosium and cerium are utilized to improve the efficiency and durability of these thin-film solar cells, to enhance their photovoltaic conversion efficiency, and to increase overall output of solar energy systems and making them more cost-effective and suitable for a wide range of applications, from rooftop installations to portable solar chargers.
Energy Storage Systems: Energy storage systems, particularly advanced batteries, are critical for balancing energy supply and demand in renewable energy systems. Lanthanum and cerium are integral in the development of these batteries, where they enhance their energy density, lifespan, and safety, crucial for the efficient and reliable energy storage, to provide a stable power supply.
Hydrogen Production: Yttrium and cerium are used in the catalysts and membranes of electrolyzers, helping to enhance their efficiency, performance and reduce energy consumption. Green hydrogen production is a key component of the hydrogen economy, which aims to use hydrogen as a clean energy carrier for various applications, from fuel cells to industrial processes. Enabling the adoption of hydrogen as a renewable energy source.
Catalytic Converters: Cerium is essential in reducing emissions from combustion engines. These converters help in breaking down harmful pollutants in the exhaust gases, making them less harmful to the environment. Its use in catalytic converters enhances energy efficiency and reduces environmental pollution. Thus, helping in bridging the gap between current energy systems and future renewable energy solutions.
AUTOMOTIVE
Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are widely used in EV motors due to their high magnetic strength and resistance to demagnetization. These characteristics are crucial for the performance and efficiency of EVs, enabling them to achieve greater speeds and longer ranges on a single charge.
The batteries mostly rely on lithium and cobalt (not rare earths). At the same time, the magnets in the motors need neodymium or samarium and can also require terbium and dysprosium; all are rare earth elements. The most common rare-earth magnets are the neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) and samarium cobalt (SmCo).
MILITARY
Promethium is used in pacemakers and guided missiles. Rare earth permanent magnets are important to the military for exactly the same reason they are important to the OEM automotive industry; they save weight and volume, and thus increase range and payload. Vehicles and weapons can be made without rare earth permanent magnets; they will just be less efficient, and more costly to manufacture and maintain.
REEs make sonar possible for submarines and naval ships. Due to their high conductivity, they improve the operations of ships’ generators, electric motors, lighting and communications systems.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Praseodymium is used in aircraft engines, fiber optic cables and magnets. Samarium is used in microwave devices and magnets. Terbium is used in light bulbs, memory devices and x-rays.
REEs are used as components in high technology devices, including smart phones, digital cameras, computer hard disks, fluorescent and light-emitting-diode (LED) lights, flat screen televisions, computer monitors, and electronic displays.
Specific REEs are used individually or in combination to make phosphors—substances that emit luminescence—for many types of ray tubes and flat panel displays, in screens that range in size from smart phone displays to stadium scoreboards. Some REEs are used in fluorescent and LED lighting.