![]() ![]() Around 80% of the world’s cobalt is processed in China, which some consider to be a suboptimal geopolitical arrangement. Around 60% of the world’s cobalt is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where unregulated ‘artisanal’ mines (some of which employ child workers) produce between 20 to 40% of the country’s cobalt.Ĭobalt can’t just be whacked straight into a battery once it’s been dug out of the ground, though, it needs to be processed into a refined form first. It’s all to do with where it comes from and where it goes before it gets to batteries. It is for these reasons that cathodes in lithium-ion batteries are comprised of between roughly 10% and 30% cobalt, with each EV needing between six and 12kg of the element. Lithium-ion batteries provide the electricity that powers an electric car’s motor when lithium ions move from the battery’s negatively charged anode to its positive cathode.Ĭobalt comes into play because it is both very energy dense, meaning it can handle lots of electricity relative to the amount used, and because it has excellent heat-resistant properties, which is important from a safety perspective. These are commonly found in smartphones and laptops, and now power almost every electric car in the world. ![]() Used for millennia as a dye for glass and ceramics (hence cobalt blue), cobalt has more recently been used to create alloys from which jet-engine turbine blades are constructed, and more recently still in lithium-ion batteries. What is cobalt?Ĭobalt is a metal element (symbol Co) that is found in the Earth’s crust, though not often by itself: in most cases it is a by-product of nickel and copper mining. Here, we dig into what cobalt is, why it’s used in EV batteries, and why there has been some controversy surrounding it. These include lithium, manganese and nickel, as well as cobalt – an element that has been the focus of an amount of media scrutiny over the last few years. Same goes for the petrol and diesel that have fuelled vehicles for the last century or so.Įlectric cars are in some ways a different proposition as their batteries consist of materials that may not be so familiar. There is a degree of familiarity with the materials cars are made from: while most of us may not think too much about steel, aluminium, glass and plastic, we generally know what these are, and where they come from. Superalloys of cobalt are highly magnetic and corrosive resistant and are widely used in turbines, motor parts, etc.Cobalt is an essential component for EV batteries we dig into it These magnets are also used in places where temperatures are very high. It is magnetic but its alloy alnico, a combination of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt is used to make powerful magnets that are used in high-speed motors. Uses of CobaltĬobalt compounds are in use for centuries. It is used in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. It is slightly toxic to the skin but ingestion can cause health effects.Ĭobalt-60 radioisotope is of great importance. In aquatic environments, cyanobacteria and other nitrogen-fixing bacteria require it. ![]() The animals which are mineral deficient are given cobalt. Cobalt is used to treat anemia as it regulates the production of red blood cells. Cobalt is the central atom in vitamin B 12. Cobalt is required for making active sites of enzymes and for their proper functioning. Cobalt is an essential trace element in living things. ![]()
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