Examples of Critical Raw Materials and Their Industrial Uses

From the smartphone in your pocket to the electric vehicle on the road, modern technology relies on a remarkable group of materials that most of us rarely think about. These materials, known as critical raw materials or critical minerals, are the unsung heroes powering our transition toward a cleaner, more technologically advanced future. But what makes a material “critical,” and why should we care about elements with tongue-twisting names like dysprosium or praseodymium? The answer lies in their unique properties and the increasingly vital roles they play in industries ranging from renewable energy to national defense.

Understanding what makes materials critical 🔗

Critical raw materials aren’t necessarily rare in the Earth’s crust-in fact, some are relatively abundant. What makes them critical is a combination of factors: their essential role in modern technologies, the difficulty of extracting and processing them, and the vulnerability of their supply chains. The U.S. Geological Survey’s 2025 Critical Minerals List includes 60 minerals vital to the economy and national security, many of which face potential supply disruptions. These materials often come from geographically concentrated sources, making their supply chains susceptible to political and economic instability.

Rare earth elements powering high-tech applications 🔗

Among the most fascinating critical materials are the rare earth elements, a group of seventeen metallic elements with remarkable properties. Despite their name, these elements aren’t actually rare-cerium is more abundant in the Earth’s crust than copper. However, they’re scattered thinly as trace impurities, requiring the processing of enormous amounts of raw ore to obtain usable quantities.

Neodymium and dysprosium in clean energy 🔗

Two particularly important rare earth elements-neodymium and dysprosium-are essential for creating powerful permanent magnets. These magnets are the beating heart of electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators. Think of them as the material equivalent of a marathon runner who never tires. These elements are used extensively in clean energy technologies, from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicle batteries and motors. Without these magnets, electric vehicles would be heavier, less efficient, and more expensive to produce.

Praseodymium in aerospace and beyond 🔗

Praseodymium might sound like something from a science fiction novel, but this rare earth element plays crucial roles in modern technology. It’s used in permanent magnets, batteries, and aerospace metal alloys. The element also finds applications in ceramics and as a colorant, demonstrating the versatility that makes rare earths so valuable across multiple industries.

Cobalt and lithium driving the battery revolution 🔗

If rare earth elements are the heart of electric motors, then cobalt and lithium are the lifeblood of energy storage. These two materials have become synonymous with the electric vehicle revolution, though their story is more complex than it might first appear.

Cobalt’s role and challenges 🔗

Cobalt is essential for lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, providing the range and durability consumers need. In battery chemistry, cobalt helps maintain stable voltage output and enables fast charging capabilities. However, the element presents significant challenges. More than two-thirds of global cobalt production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mining conditions have raised serious ethical concerns about labor practices and environmental impacts.

The good news? The industry is responding. Battery manufacturers are transitioning away from cobalt, with some companies developing batteries that contain less than five percent cobalt or are completely cobalt-free. Technologies like lithium-iron-phosphate batteries offer alternatives, though they currently have lower energy density than cobalt-containing batteries.

Lithium fueling the clean energy transition 🔗

Lithium has become almost as famous as the smartphones and electric vehicles it powers. This lightweight metal is crucial for rechargeable batteries in everything from portable electronics to grid-scale energy storage systems. Demand for lithium used in electric vehicle batteries is forecast to increase by 4,200 percent by 2040, a staggering projection that underscores both the potential and the challenges of the clean energy transition.

Platinum group metals as catalytic powerhouses 🔗

Platinum, palladium, and rhodium form a trio of precious metals with extraordinary catalytic properties. These platinum group metals have revolutionized both pollution control and energy production.

Automotive catalytic converters 🔗

Catalytic converters contain platinum, rhodium, and palladium, which are responsible for conversion reactions that transform pollutants into harmless gases. These devices convert over ninety percent of harmful polluting gases into less harmful carbon dioxide and water vapor. When you see a car pass an emissions test, you’re witnessing platinum group metals at work. More than 98 percent of new cars sold worldwide each year are now fitted with these pollution control devices.

Fuel cells and green hydrogen 🔗

The same catalytic properties that clean vehicle exhaust are now being harnessed for cleaner fuel production. Platinum group metals are central to emerging technologies like water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production and fuel cells for vehicles and stationary energy storage. These metals enable the splitting of hydrogen molecules into electrons that create electricity and protons that combine with oxygen to produce only water vapor and heat as byproducts.

Graphite, indium, and tantalum in specialized applications 🔗

While some critical materials grab headlines, others quietly enable technologies we depend on daily.

Graphite in batteries and industry 🔗

Graphite serves as an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, where it forms the anode material. Demand for graphite in electric vehicle batteries is projected to increase by 2,500 percent by 2040. Beyond batteries, graphite’s properties make it valuable for high-temperature lubricants, electrical motor brushes, and fuel cells. Its ability to conduct electricity while withstanding extreme temperatures makes it irreplaceable in many industrial applications.

Indium in displays and solar panels 🔗

Every time you swipe your smartphone screen or look at a flat-panel display, you’re interacting with indium. The primary applications of indium are flat-panel displays and specialty alloys, making it essential for the aerospace, defense, energy, and telecommunications sectors. Indium is also used in solar panels, contributing to renewable energy generation.

Tantalum’s corrosion resistance 🔗

Tantalum is widely used in electronic capacitors for smartphones, automotive systems, and wind turbines. Its exceptional corrosion resistance and high melting point make it invaluable in harsh environments. In medicine, tantalum’s biocompatibility makes it ideal for surgical implants like hip joints and bone plates, as the body does not reject it. The aerospace industry uses tantalum in turbine blades and engine components that must withstand extreme temperatures and chemical exposure.

Essential metals for diverse industrial needs 🔗

Some critical materials might seem more familiar, but their importance to modern infrastructure cannot be overstated.

Copper as the foundation of electrification 🔗

Copper has been used by humans for thousands of years, but its role has never been more critical. As the cornerstone of electrical wiring and plumbing, copper is fundamental to the electrification of transportation and the build-out of renewable energy infrastructure. Copper is essential for electricity networks and is the cornerstone of all electricity-related technologies. The metal’s excellent electrical conductivity combined with its durability makes it irreplaceable in power transmission.

Nickel in stainless steel and batteries 🔗

Nickel plays dual roles in modern industry. It’s a key component in stainless steel production, providing corrosion resistance and strength to everything from kitchen appliances to chemical processing equipment. Simultaneously, nickel has become increasingly important in battery technology, particularly as manufacturers develop high-nickel cathode materials to reduce cobalt dependence.

Antimony and bismuth in specialized applications 🔗

Antimony is crucial for flame retardants and lead-acid batteries, playing an important safety role in preventing fires in electronics and buildings. Bismuth finds uses in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, where its low toxicity compared to other heavy metals makes it a safer alternative. These materials demonstrate how critical raw materials often serve highly specific but essential functions in protecting public health and safety.

The supply chain challenge 🔗

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of critical raw materials isn’t their geology but their geography. China processes more than half of the world’s lithium, two-thirds of its cobalt, one-third of its nickel, and nearly all rare earth elements. This concentration creates vulnerabilities in global supply chains, prompting countries to invest in domestic production, recycling technologies, and international partnerships to secure access to these essential materials.

The challenge extends beyond mining to refining and processing. Even countries with mineral deposits often lack the infrastructure to transform raw ore into usable materials. Building resilient supply chains requires investment across the entire value chain, from exploration and extraction to processing and recycling.

What do you think? As we accelerate the transition to clean energy and advanced technologies, how can we balance the need for critical raw materials with environmental protection and ethical sourcing? What role should recycling and material innovation play in reducing our dependence on newly mined materials?

References

1. https://www.usgs.gov/news/science-snippet/interior-department-releases-final-2025-list-critical-minerals
2. https://www.netl.doe.gov/resource-sustainability/critical-minerals-and-materials/rare-earth-elements
3. https://www.wri.org/insights/critical-minerals-explained
4. https://www.cobaltinstitute.org/batteries-electric-vehicles/
5. https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/cobalt
6. https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/material-resources/critical-materials-factsheet
7. https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/platinum-group-metals-on-the-move-transportation-and-energy-applications/
8. https://www.metaltechnews.com/story/2023/09/12/critical-minerals-alliances-2023/platinum-metals-are-catalysts-for-change/1460.html
9. https://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/usgs-updates-mineral-database-indium-deposits-united-states
10. https://www.aemmetal.com/news/uses-of-tantalum.html
11. https://www.iea.org/topics/critical-minerals