What are rare earth metals used for

A family of 14 elements with ordinal numbers from 58 (cerium) to 71 (lutetium) located in the sixth period of the periodic system behind lanthanum and similar elements belongs to the group of rare-earth elements. Therefore, usually, this group includes lanthanum, and the elements are called lanthanides (i.e., similar to lanthanum). In addition, chemical analogs of lanthanum, elements of the third group of scandium and yttrium, are adjacent to the lanthanides. The latter is closer in properties to lanthanides than scandium and usually accompanies them in mineral raw materials. According to their physic-chemical properties, the lanthanides are similar. Also, their physic-chemical properties determine the areas rare earth elements used for.

Rare-earth elements (in the form of metals, alloys, and chemical compounds) have found application in various branches of technology: ferrous metallurgy, glass, and ceramics, atomic, electric lighting, television and laser technology, chemical industry, medicine, agriculture, also rare earth elements used in electronics. The possibilities of using them are far from exhausted and expand with the study of the properties of lanthanides, their alloys, and compounds.

What rare earth metals are used in cell phones

Over 20 different rare earth metals used in cell phones, computers and other electronic devices people using nowadays. All of them have outstanding properties and are critically important for electronic and other industries. The term "critically important" means the impossibility of a full replacement of this material by any other without serious deterioration of the properties of the final product.

So, what metals and rare earth metals used in smartphones?

• Indium and tin. The semiconductor of indium oxide and tin oxide transparent for visible light are used to cover the sensor displays.
• Yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium and other rare earth metal used in touch screens. In small amounts, they enhance the colors, brightness, and contrast of the display, protect against the action of ultraviolet.
• Silicon, arsenic, gallium, hafnium. Monocrystals of silicon are the basis of microcircuits, individual components can include semiconductor gallium arsenide.
• Lithium, cobalt, manganese are rare earth metals used in batteries. The anode of lithium-ion batteries is usually made of graphite, and the cathode is made of lithium-cobalt oxide. Sometimes cobalt can be replaced, for example, with manganese.

Rare earth materials used in cars

Nowadays the car industry experiences the huge influence of green technologies. The rare earth metals used in hybrid cars are different for every vehicle manufacturer and the particular model. Aluminum, titanium, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and copper are the rare earth metal is used in electric vehicles. Hybrid cars’ batteries contain manganese. Also, some manufacturers utilize rare earth material used in car engines for powerful magnets. The new technologies requirements create the situation when the demand is a reason to increase investing in rare earth metals as the production and use of electric cars and hybrids grows.

Rare earth metals used in solar panels

Scandium is widespread especially in the sphere of high technologies: data storage systems with a high speed of information exchange; added to the mercury lamp scandium ionide, in a very small amount, brings its light closer to the natural solar one. Chromide scandium makes electrodes for MHD generators. Also, scandium is rare earth used in solar panels.

Rare earth metals used in computers

Europium is also the silver color metal of the Lantonoid group. It is very useful in nuclear power engineering, for the production of LED lamps, televisions and computer monitors. Insulating layers with high dielectric permittivity in the newest processors are made using oxides and silicates of hafnium.

Rare earth metals used in magnets

Neodymium is a rare earth magnet used in wind turbines. Compared to other alloys, these magnets are much smaller in size, they are more efficient and withstand high temperatures. Neodymium is also part of the alloys of heavy drill bits used for oil and gas production and helps turbines to convert wind power to electricity.