Rare earths and critical raw materials for the future

Rare earths and other critical raw materials possess properties that make them indispensable for many future technologies. Batteries, electric motors, semiconductors, LEDs, smartphones, solar cells and wind turbines would be almost inconceivable without them. Following the trail of critical raw materials such as gallium, germanium, cobalt, lithium and neodymium, we explore their origins, applications, demand, availability and recycling potential, and ask how the use of these raw materials can be made more sustainable.