Author(s)
Samantha DeCarlo, Daniel Matthews
Demand for cobalt—a major input in the production of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) used in electric vehicles (EVs)—is growing due to recent technological advancements and government policies designed to promote the use of EVs. This has led major automakers, battery manufacturers, personal electronic device companies, and their suppliers to attempt to secure stable supplies and develop new sources of cobalt throughout the world. Moreover, the rising demand for cobalt has led to global supply constraints, higher prices, and renewed drive in battery materials research for potential substitutes for mined cobalt.