The Critical Raw Materials Issue between Scarcity, Supply Risk, and Unique Properties

Area of Science:

• Geochemistry and Materials Science
• Nuclear Physics

Background:

• Analyzes the abundance and scarcity of chemical elements and minerals across Earth, Sun, and the Universe.
• Connects elemental distribution to nuclear properties like neutron count and binding energy per nucleon.

Discussion:

• Explores how understanding element formation and properties informs the feasibility of material substitution for technical applications.
• Highlights the urgent need for solutions to critical raw material availability challenges, citing European Union mineral scarcity as an example.

Key Insights:

• Element properties, driven by electronic and nucleonic structure, dictate substitution potential.
• A broad, multidisciplinary strategy is essential for tackling critical raw material challenges.

Outlook:

• The European Commission's call for collaborative research underscores the importance of addressing raw material security.
• Initiatives like COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) foster networks to drive innovation in materials science.