Advanced Critical Materials (ACMs)
What are ACMs?
Advanced Critical Materials are vital to sustaining future innovations in the defence and electronics industries
These materials, comprising minerals and chemical compounds, face significant supply chain vulnerabilities, yet they remain pivotal for maintaining competitive edges across various energy technologies, spanning energy production, transmission, storage, and conservation.
Recognising their importance, both the US Department of Energy and the UK Government have underscored the criticality of specific minerals essential for future innovations in defence and electronics. Among these, Gallium, Germanium, Graphene, Dysprosium, Neodymium, Niobium, Tungsten, and Hafnium are highlighted.
Of particular concern is Gallium, positioned at a critical juncture due to its susceptibility to disruption and heavy reliance on trade.
Gallium is emerging as a priority opportunity within ACMs since it is in a “critical spot” of disruption potential and trade reliance
Why is Gallium of particular importance?
Gallium emerges as not only critical for current applications but also vital for technological advancements in the coming years.
Gallium is extensively used in electronics, with 95% of it utilisation in the form of gallium arsenide, a material employed in semiconductors boasting superior performance and lower power consumption compared to silicon. These semiconductors are integral to technologies such as blue and violet LEDs and microwave devices. Additionally, gallium nitride is gaining substantial prominence in semiconductors used in components for electric vehicles, sensors, high-end radio communications, LEDs, and other emerging technologies with its usage projected to surge significantly.
China's dominance in the global supply of gallium, constituting approximately 80% of the world's supply, presents a significant concern for Western economies. Gallium plays a crucial role in modern electronics supply chains, particularly in advanced defence equipment such as next-generation missile defense systems, radar, electronic warfare, and communications systems. This dependency on China for gallium raises potential risks for the U.S. and its allies, as any disruption in the supply chain could severely impact various sectors, including defence and technology.
