Critical minerals serve various roles in nanotechnology applications:
Lithium is extensively used in lithium-ion batteries for energy storage devices. At the nanoscale, lithium can improve battery capacity and charge-discharge rates. Cobalt nanoparticles are used in catalysts and magnetic materials. They are essential in the production of high-performance alloys and superalloys. Graphite is a precursor to graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms with extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties. Graphene has applications in flexible electronics, sensors, and nanocomposites. Rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium are essential for high-strength magnets used in electric motors and wind turbines. At the nanoscale, they are also used in phosphors for display technologies.
