Rare earths – The foundation for technology development

Rare earths are a group of seventeen chemical elements that occur together in the periodic table. This group includes yttrium and 15 elements including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium.

Scandium is found in most rare earth element deposits and is sometimes classified as a rare earth element. These rare earth elements are also known as rare metals.

The most important role

Rare earth metals and alloys containing them are used in many devices that people use every day such as computer memories, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, lights, etc. fluorescent lighting and more.

Rare earth elements are also present in electronic components.

Many rechargeable batteries are made of rare earth compounds. Demand for batteries is being driven by demand for portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, e-readers, laptops and cameras. A few kilograms of rare earth compounds are found in the batteries that power every electric vehicle.

Demand is increasing day by day

As concerns about energy autonomy and climate change persist, the demand for batteries made of rare earth compounds will grow even faster. In addition, rare earths are used as catalysts, phosphorus and polishing compounds. They are used to control air pollution, illuminate screens on electronic devices, and polish optical quality glass. All of these products are expected to experience a surge in demand.

During the past twenty years, there has been an explosion in demand for many items with rare-earth metal components. In the past, very few people owned cell phones or any other electronic device, but today more than 5 billion people own mobile devices and countless other electronic devices such as computers, TVs, etc. ..And the above innovations all play an important role of rare earths.

You may not know, the rare earth mine in Vietnam is the second largest in the world, after China.