Ivanhoe’s Kipushi zinc mine in the DRC officially reopens
The restart marked exactly a century since the mine first went into production.
Oxford University researchers looking for more efficient and cheaper ways to manufacture solar panels have found a possible solution in lowly base metal zinc.
For as long as photovoltaic panels have been in large-scale commercial production indium – a relatively scarce and expensive rare earth element – in the form of indium tin oxide (ITO) has been the key ingredient.
Solar Power Portal quotes Professor Peter Edwards, Head of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford and lead scientist on the research project, that won the Materials Science Venture Prize by the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers this week:
“Zinc is a much more abundant material than indium, and our silicon-doped zinc oxide material offers electrical conductivities around two thirds of ITO, with comparable optical transparency. In addition to solar cells, our new coating could be used with lighting displays and LCD displays used in smart phones, computers and televisions.”
Even though the zinc based transparent material is a less efficient conductor, it has great advantage in manufacturing.
ITO has to be applied to its substrate material in a vacuum chamber. The silicon doped zinc oxide is a liquid that can be sprayed on like paint, making it practical to apply to large and malleable surfaces potentially including aircraft wings and fuselages or motor vehicles.
Indium is produced as a byproduct primarily from zinc mining. China has 60-70% of the world’s indium smelting capacity. Indium’s price fluctuates wildly and currently the metal trades for $580 per kilogram. Zinc contracts on the LME changed hands for $1,895 per tonne on Friday.
Renewables were up from 0.7% of global energy consumption in 2010 to 2.1% in 2011. Solar power increased 86.3% and at current growth rates solar could provide nearly 10 percent of the world’s electricity by 2018.
One of the world’s largest unexploited resources of indium is the Malku Khota deposit in Bolivia. South American Silver’s mining project there has been the scene of violent clashes between authorities and local indigenous people which turned fatal this week.
5 Comments
Emilyindium
Full disclosure: I’m an employee of Indium Corporation of America.
I would like to refute some of the statements in the article.
1) Saying that zinc oxide material offers electrical conductivity around 2/3 of ITO, is not all good, as ITO continues to be used for its combination of extremely good resistivity, excellent optical transparency, and excellent mechanical and chemical stability. If a different material does not match all these characteristics is not good at all to become a substitute for ITO.
Moreover, the cost of an ITO coated glass is only about US$2 on a 42″ screen, thus very cheap, and the technology is mature and efficient, discouraging any new technology that does not meet all the above features.
2) Saying that China has 60-70% of the world’s smelting capacity is a bit exaggerated, as it now has around 50% but the share of not Chinese smelters is increasing.
3) Currently there is not only Malku Khota project but many others projects whre indium has been found in base metals deposits, i.e. for example Adex in Canada.
Moreover, only 1/3 of the indium mined gets refined, so there’s much room for additional production if needed.
Coulom1
Solar panels will increase energy supply all over the globe. The added energy will heat up the planet, but the energy cost will decrease. Home owners should develop a mind set to get paid for energy produced while big industry will pay to consume the energy.
2ndOrion
Silicon Doping of the Zinc Oxide? This is just the start. Perhaps Doping with other elements of the type like silicon such as carbon, germanium, or tin -or a combination of them may increase the conductivity and still maintain the transparency.
Enviro1Zn
Zinc galvanized “sleepers” under the rails of the worlds railways would consume all the available zinc, save a lot of trees & eliminate the environmental hazard & the need to creosote the railbed ties.
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