Science Made Simple: What Are Critical Materials?

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This article from SciTechDaily, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, provides an overview of critical materials. These are elements vital to energy technology, economic, and national security. The U.S. seeks to ensure their supply due to potential disruptions from demand spikes, natural disasters, or export restrictions. Critical materials like gallium, used in electronics and produced mainly as a byproduct of aluminum manufacturing, are natural, scarce, and largely produced in China. The Department of Energy’s initiatives aim to address these challenges through research on new sources, substitutes, and recycling methods for critical materials. For more detailed insights, visit the article here: