Is antimony the future of energy storage and photovoltaic technology?

The demand for antimony in photovoltaic and energy storage fields will increase significantly with clean energy technology development. The explosive development of solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESSs) in recent years endows the antimony (Sb) with a new role in the renewable era (Li et al., 2021; Simpson et al., 2021 ).

Why is antimony important?

An unsung war hero that saved countless American troops during World War II, an overlooked battery material that has played a pivotal role in storing electricity for more than 100 years, and a major ingredient in futuristic grid-scale energy storage, antimony is among the most important critical metalloids that most people have never heard of.

Is antimony a contested resource?

As the clean energy transition accelerates, critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements have become buzzwords in business, international relations, and sustainability. Yet amid the scramble for these well-known resources, another metal – antimony – has quietly emerged as another keenly contested resource.

Is antimony a mineral?

Antimony is not a mineral, it is an element. The most common mineral containing antimony is stibnite. Despite its lack of fanfare, antimony is a critical mineral that plays an important role in the mass storage of renewable energy.

Are antimony ores a problem?

Nevertheless, the global supply of antimony ores faces problems of severe shortage and highly concentrated mining from a mid-to-long-term perspective ( Henckens et al., 2014; Patiño Douce, 2016). Most countries must obtain antimony ores through international trade for the uneven geographical distribution of antimony ores.

Where is antimony used today?

"Today, antimony is used in lead-acid storage batteries for backup power and transportation; in chemicals, ceramics, and glass; in flame-retardant materials; and in heat stabilizers and plastics," according to the USGS.