Technology Metals
Visualizing the Critical Metals in a Smartphone
Visualizing the Critical Metals in a Smartphone
In an increasingly connected world, smartphones have become an inseparable part of our lives.
Over 60% of the worldās population owns a mobile phone and smartphone adoption continues to rise in developing countries around the world.
While each brand has its own mix of components, whether it’s a Samsung or an iPhone, most smartphones can carry roughly 80% of the stable elements on the periodic table.
But some of the vital metals to build these devices are considered at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, and other factors.
| Smartphone Part | Critical Metal |
|---|---|
| Touch Screen | indium |
| Display | lanthanum; gadolinium; praseodymium; europium; terbium; dysprosium |
| Electronics | nickel, gallium, tantalum |
| Casing | nickel, magnesium |
| Battery | lithium, nickel, cobalt |
| Microphone, speakers, vibration unit | nickel, praseodymium, neodymium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium |
What’s in Your Pocket?
This infographic based on data from the University of Birmingham details all the critical metals that you carry in your pocket with your smartphone.
1. Touch Screen
Screens are made up of multiple layers of glass and plastic, coated with a conductor material called indium which is highly conductive and transparent.
Indium responds when contacted by another electrical conductor, like our fingers.
When we touch the screen, an electric circuit is completed where the finger makes contact with the screen, changing the electrical charge at this location. The device registers this electrical charge as a ātouch eventā, then prompting a response.
2. Display
Smartphones screens display images on a liquid crystal display (LCD). Just like in most TVs and computer monitors, a phone LCD uses an electrical current to adjust the color of each pixel.
Several rare earth elements are used to produce the colors on screen.
3. Electronics
Smartphones employ multiple antenna systems, such as Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi.
The distance between these antenna systems is usually small making it extremely difficult to achieve flawless performance. Capacitors made of the rare, hard, blue-gray metal tantalum are used for filtering and frequency tuning.
Nickel is also used in capacitors and in mobile phone electrical connections. Another silvery metal, gallium, is used in semiconductors.
4. Microphone, Speakers, Vibration Unit
Nickel is used in the microphone diaphragm (that vibrates in response to sound waves).
Alloys containing rare earths neodymium, praseodymium and gadolinium are used in the magnets contained in the speaker and microphone. Neodymium, terbium and dysprosium are also used in the vibration unit.
5. Casing
There are many materials used to make phone cases, such as plastic, aluminum, carbon fiber, and even gold. Commonly, the cases have nickel to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and magnesium alloys for EMI shielding.
6. Battery
Unless you bought your smartphone a decade ago, your device most likely carries a lithium-ion battery, which is charged and discharged by lithium ions moving between the negative (anode) and positive (cathode) electrodes.
Whatās Next?
Smartphones will naturally evolve as consumers look for ever-more useful features. Foldable phones, 5G technology with higher download speeds, and extra cameras are just a few of the changes expected.
As technology continues to improve, so will the demand for the metals necessary for the next generation of smartphones.
Misc
Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
End-of-life recycling rates measure the percentage of a material that is recovered at the end of its useful life, rather than being disposed of or incinerated.
Charted: The End-of-Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on Apple or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
We visualize the end-of-life recycling rates (EOL-RR) of commonly used metals in the economy. Data is sourced from the International Energy Agency, last updated in 2021.
Tracking recycling rates helps manage resources better and make smarter policies, guiding efforts to cut down on waste.
Ranked: The End of Life Recycling Rates of Select Metals
Gold has an 86% recycling rate according to the latest available data. Per the Boston Consulting Group, one-third of total gold supply was met through recycling between 1995ā2014.
| Metal | End-of-life recycling rate (2021) | š Used In |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 86% | š Jewelry / Electronics |
| Platinum/Palladium | 60% | š¬ Optical fibers / Dental fillings |
| Nickel | 60% | š Batteries / Turbine blades |
| Silver | 50% | š Jewelry / Mirrors |
| Copper | 46% | š Electrical wiring / Industrial equipment |
| Aluminum | 42% | āļø Aeroplane parts / Cans |
| Chromium | 34% | š½ļø Stainless steel / Leather tanning |
| Zinc | 33% | š Galvanizing metal / Making rubber |
| Cobalt | 32% | š Batteries / Turbine engines |
| Lithium | 0.5% | š Batteries / Pacemakers |
| REEs | 0.2% | š± Mobile phones / Hard drives |
Note: Figures are rounded.
Several factors can influence metal recycling rates. According to this International Resource Panel report, metals that are used in large quantities (steel) or have a high value (gold) tend to have higher recycling rates.
However, for materials used in small quantities in complex products (rare earth elements in electronics), recycling becomes far more challenging.
Finally, a metalās EOL-RR is strongly influenced by the least efficient link in the recycling chain, which is typically how it’s initially collected.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed this post, check out Critical Materials: Where China, the EU, and the U.S. Overlap which shows how critical materials are classified within different jurisdictions.
Technology Metals
Mapped: Ukraine’s Mineral Resources
Ukraine claims to hold nearly $15 trillion worth of mineral resources.
Mapped: Ukraine’s Mineral Resources
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
An anticipated minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine was not signed today after a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
The proposed Reconstruction Investment Fund references “deposits of minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, and gas”. Most notably, the Trump administration has shown interest in rare earth reservesāa group of 17 chemically similar elements critical to manufacturing high-tech products, including loudspeakers and computer hard drives.
The data for this graphic comes from the Ukrainian Geologic Survey.
Ukraineās Untapped Resource Potential
Ukraine claims to hold nearly $15 trillion worth of mineral resources, making it one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. The country is home to the continentās largest reserves of lithium, titanium, and uranium.
- Titanium ā Used in aerospace and military applications
- Graphite ā Essential for battery production
- Lithium ā A key component of lithium-ion batteries
- Beryllium ā Vital for defense and telecommunications
- Rare Earth Elements ā Crucial for electronics, renewable energy, and defense industries
According to data from the Ukrainian geologic survey, Ukraine possesses 5% of the worldās mineral resources, including 23 of the 50 materials deemed critical by the U.S. government. These include:
| Element | Reserves (tonnes) | Global Production (%) | Reserves Global/Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 18,600,000 t | 4% | #5 |
| Manganese | 140,000,000 t | 1.6% | #4 |
| Iron | 6,500,000,000 t | 1.5% | #8 |
| Beryllium | 13,900 t | - | - |
| Lithium | Classified | - | #1 (Europe) |
| Titanium | Classified | 7% | #9 |
| Uranium | Classified | 2% | #1 (Europe) |
Geopolitical and Economic Implications
Access to Ukraineās resource wealth could strengthen U.S. supply chains and reduce reliance on China, which dominates rare earth processing. However, securing investment and ensuring stable extraction remains a challenge amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Learn More on the Voronoi AppĀ
If you enjoyed this topic, check out thisĀ graphicĀ that visualizes the top 10 donors to Ukraine between Jan 24, 2022, and July 31, 2023.
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