What specific rare earth materials are likely to be used in future motors and batteries?

“They’re just by far the best for the application.” Neodymium is a so-called rare earth element, a silvery metal with a very important role in renewable energy. When combined with iron and boron, it makes strong magnets that are important both for generators in wind turbines and motors in electric vehicles.

What is an example of a rare earth material?

The most abundant rare earth elements are cerium, yttrium, lanthanum and neodymium [2]. They have average crustal abundances that are similar to commonly used industrial metals such as chromium, nickel, zinc, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and lead [1]. Again, they are rarely found in extractable concentrations.

What are rare earth metals and what are they used for in modern technology?

“Rare-earth elements (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.

Is gold rare earth metal?

Rare earth metals include: rare earth elements—17 elements in the periodic table, the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium; six platinum group elements; and other byproduct metals that occur in copper, gold, uranium, phosphates, iron or zinc ores.

Is gold rare earth?

Gold owes its status as a precious metal to its rarity: all the gold mined throughout history would fit into a square box with sides of around 20m in length. Gold is rare throughout the Universe because it’s a relatively hefty atom, consisting of 79 protons and 118 neutrons.

What is the most used rare earth element?

One of them is neodymium, because it’s the most important REE used in permanent magnets. The others are heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), including europium, terbium, dysprosium and yttrium.

How do humans use rare earth metals?

Rare-earth elements (REEs) are used in the components of many devices used daily in our modern society, such as: the screens of smart phones, computers, and flat panel televisions; the motors of computer drives; batteries of hybrid and electric cars; and new generation light bulbs.

Is silver a rare earth?

And what do precious metals have in common? Mostly, that they are rare and therefore valuable. Gold, silver, platinum and the platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium). As you see, not one of the rare earths also appears on the list of precious metals…

Is copper a rare earth?

All rare earth metals contain radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium, which can contaminate air, water, soil and groundwater. Metals such as arsenic, barium, copper, aluminum, lead and beryllium may be released during mining into the air or water, and can be toxic to human health.