Precious metals are those that are rare and have a high value. They are often used in jewellery, but they also have other uses. In particular, precious metals are used in futuristic technologies.
These metals can be found in electric cars, smartphones and other cutting-edge devices. Here is a look at 5 of the essential metals used in futuristic technologies:
- Nickel
- Cobalt
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Lithium
Nickel
Nickel is a precious metal that is most commonly found in coins. Nickel is identifiable by its silver colour and is characterized by its durability as a metal. This element is a type of transition metal, and it is most commonly used in alloys. One of the most common uses for nickel is in batteries. Nickel-cadmium batteries are often found in small electronic devices that require low amounts of power, such as cameras or electric toothbrushes.
Nickel has also been developed into a superalloy that can make gas turbine blades for aeroplanes. This precious metal can withstand very high temperatures without becoming damaged and dulls corrosion effectively over time when exposed to air pollution particles.
The strengthening capacity of nickel can also provide added durability to steel used in skyscrapers and bridges, making these structures more resistant to natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. Because this element has so many different applications, it is no wonder that nickel appears in so many futuristic technologies.
Nickel has been increasingly used in futuristic technologies such as batteries for laptops, phones, and even electric vehicles! As a result, the global demand for nickel has surged in recent years, and the price of this precious metal has skyrocketed due to its increasing scarcity.
Cobalt
Cobalt is another precious metal that can be used in various ways. This precious metal also belongs to the transition metals category, but unlike nickel, cobalt is magnetic and blue-grey or blackish. Cobalt has been found on Earth since ancient times as it naturally occurs within many ores like copper and silver.
However, it was only during the 20th century that scientists discovered how valuable this precious metal could be for building various products, including aeroplane motors, surgical tools, magnets and even permanent magnets for electric vehicles!
More recently, cobalt has been increasingly used to produce rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are found in many laptops, phones and electric cars. Cobalt is used in these batteries because it helps stabilize the battery and prevent overcharging or short-circuiting.
However, in the last few years, there have been serious issues associated with cobalt production. Particularly, cobalt mines in the Congo have been known to use child labour, and there have been reports of human rights abuses. As a result, companies have attempted to find alternative ways to produce cobalt without relying on these unethical practices.
Platinum
Platinum is another precious metal used in various futuristic technologies such as electric cars and fuel cells. This metal is very rare on Earth’s crust, making it one of the most precious metals in the world.
Platinum has several unique properties that make it ideal for these technologies. It is highly resistant to corrosion, meaning that it can be used in extreme environments without any degradation. Platinum also has a very high melting point – about 1800 degrees Celsius!
This makes it perfect for use in fuel cells, where the goal is to create a reaction between two different substances at as high a temperature as possible. In fact, platinum is essential for this process that many fuel cell manufacturers actually include small amounts of this precious metal within their products!
Palladium
Palladium has several uses within futuristic technology, as its lightweight makes it ideal for aerospace applications. Palladium also has unique properties such as high conductivity, malleability and durability, which make it useful for various devices.
Similar to platinum, palladium is also being used in fuel cells to reduce pollution and emissions from these systems. By replacing traditional catalysts with palladium, fuel cell manufacturers can significantly reduce the number of harmful pollutants that are released into the air!
These fuel cells are an essential component for electric vehicles, significantly boosting the demand for palladium and platinum. For more information on how these metals work in fuel cells, check out this guide to the differences between platinum and palladium.
Lithium
Lithium is a precious metal that has been used for centuries for various purposes. Europeans first discovered this lightest of all metals in 1817 in a mineral – petalite – found in Brazil. However, it wasn’t until much later that scientists realized just how useful this element could be.
Today, lithium can be found in everything from watches to aeroplanes! One of the most common uses for lithium is in batteries. These batteries work by transferring lithium ions back and forth between two electrodes.
In particular, the demand for lithium has skyrocketed thanks to the surging popularity of electric vehicles. Consequently, this precious metal’s price has also increased in recent years as its scarcity has become more apparent.
However, it’s not just the precious metal itself that makes lithium so valuable; many other elements are found within these minerals, including iron, magnesium, and even uranium! Some experts believe we may soon run out of this precious mineral if demand continues to grow at such a rapid pace.
As you can see, each of these precious metals has a unique role to play in our society’s ever-growing technology sector. While some may be more scarce than others, they all have unique properties that make them essential for the development of new and innovative devices.
So what does the future hold for these precious metals? Only time will tell!
