explainer: why lithium is such a hot item right now - lithium ion rechargeable battery
Dozens of troubled mining companies have rebranded themselves as lithium, and investors have invested in it.
But what is lithium and why does everyone want it?
More than 200 years ago, Brazilian naturalist Joze bonifá cio de Andralda e Silva discovered the lightest known metal on the Swedish island.
Traditionally, it is used in aircraft manufacturing and in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder as it helps to stabilize mood swings caused by the disease.
Until recently, demand has been low and only five mines have been developed globally in the past 20 years.
Now everyone wants the battery.
In particular, the South Australian government, Tesla and Shin-en, announced plans for the world's largest lithium-ion battery to ensure power supply in the state.
In fact, lithium-ion batteries have been around for decades, but the shift in global solar storage for smartphones, electric bicycles, cars and homes is driving demand growth.
"Its ability [make]long-lasting re-
"Rechargeable batteries may be where their niche is at the moment," said Tristan Clements, research assistant at the University of Western Australia . ".
"The emergence of portable electronics does bring it.
If you think about the current society and our battery usage, it will grow exponentially.
"They all have rechargeable batteries made mainly of lithium.
"If we think about the house and try to charge with solar panels, you need to have good battery power in order to be able to store power when the sun doesn't shine.
This is the real application of lithium in the future.
"Other conductive metals suitable for battery storage are also growing.
In lithium, the amount of graphite is more than 10 times that of lithium
That's why miners are also scrambling to get graphite deposits.
But analysts say the commodity boom that has driven the electric battery market has surpassed lithium and graphite.
Romano Sara Turner, asset management analyst at Katana, said: "It started using lithium a few years ago, and then graphene was a hot commodity, and it turned to cobalt this year . ".
"What we're seeing now is the first generation of batteries.
"Although this is a fairly deep market, there is already a considerable supply base, I think the demand for electric batteries, etc, will start to exceed supply over time.
"Mr. Sala Tenna issued an investor warning to a large number of companies involved in the industry.
"There are two reasons why the vast majority of people will not go anywhere.
"One is that they don't have financial deposits on their own, and the other is that they will be overtaken by early promoters," he said . ".
"Even if you have a project, the economy is in good condition, stable and stable, if you are not listed early, if the market is already in a state of balance or oversupply, you will find it difficult to get the bank up to speed. "Topics:mining-
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