DOE 2023 Critical Materials Assessment — "Electric Eighteen"
U.S. Department of Energy (Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains) · 2023 · 18 materials
Assessment focused on materials critical to clean-energy technologies. Materials grouped into short-term (2020–2025) and medium-term (2025–2035) criticality tiers based on supply risk + importance to energy transition.
Short-term critical (2020–2025)
| Material | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Dysprosium | Permanent magnets for EV motors and wind turbines. |
| Neodymium | Permanent magnets — largest demand share. |
| Gallium | GaN/GaAs semiconductors; China supplies ~95% globally. |
| Graphite | Battery anode material — 100% imported in the U.S. |
| Cobalt | Battery cathodes (especially NMC chemistries). |
| Terbium | High-temperature magnet additive. |
| Iridium | PEM electrolyzer catalyst for green hydrogen. |
Medium-term critical (2025–2035)
| Material | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Nickel | High-nickel battery cathodes; growing EV adoption. |
| Platinum | Fuel-cell catalysts; hydrogen economy. |
| Magnesium | Lightweight alloys; China supplies >85%. |
| Silicon Carbide SiC compound — page links to elemental silicon. | Power electronics for EVs and grid (links to elemental silicon). |
| Praseodymium | Permanent magnets, often co-mined with Nd (NdPr). |