Is energy storage related to antimony ore

Why is antimony important?

From advanced energy storage systems to flame retardants in renewable energy infrastructure, antimony is essential in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and is proving vital in the quest for a more sustainable planet. Industrial applications Antimony is a metalloid, meaning it exhibits properties of both a metal and non-metal.

Why is antimony considered a critical material?

Antimony is considered a critical material due to its expanding uses, particularly in battery technology and electrical and energy related technologies. Over the past decade, antimony appeared in over a thousand U.S. electrical applications patents.

Is antimony the future of energy storage and photovoltaic technology?

The demand for antimony in photovoltaic and energy storage fields will increase significantly with clean energy technology development. The explosive development of solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESSs) in recent years endows the antimony (Sb) with a new role in the renewable era (Li et al., 2021; Simpson et al., 2021 ).

Can antimony convert indoor light into electricity?

The development of new classes of materials utilizing antimony that can convert ambient indoor light into electricity may soon power wireless smart devices (Warburton, 2021). These materials will help reduce energy consumption since it will allow some of the energy used to illuminate indoor environments to be recycled.

Are antimony ores a problem?

Nevertheless, the global supply of antimony ores faces problems of severe shortage and highly concentrated mining from a mid-to-long-term perspective ( Henckens et al., 2014; Patiño Douce, 2016). Most countries must obtain antimony ores through international trade for the uneven geographical distribution of antimony ores.

Are lithium ion batteries based on antimony?

No, lithium-ion batteries are not based on antimony. However, antimony is used in the cathodic material of liquid metal batteries (LMBs), an emerging battery technology that has longer life cycles than contemporary lithium-ion batteries.