Antimony
Supporting the transition to a green economy
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Why Antimony?
Antimony (Sb) is regarded as the metal that will “support the transition to a green economy.”
Up until now, nearly two thirds of antimony’s use has been as a flame retardant. However, antimony’s use is rising for innovative mass storage applications (such as molten salt batteries), collecting energy from sources such as wind and solar energy 
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Supply has traditionally come from China, with South Africa and Ukraine a far second and third place respectively. With China’s supplies declining and South Africa’s antimony mine shuttered, many countries are actively seeking to procure antimony stocks. As such antimony is one of only five metals to make it onto the Critical Metals Lists of all major countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Japan and the United States.
The United States has made several recent announcements that support domestic mining of critical minerals such as antimony. The nation’s objective is to secure and shorten supply chains while supporting projects that reduce environmental impacts. To this end, Molten Metals is extremely well positioned to support the United States on two of its most important policy files: reducing climate change and securing critical minerals for North American industry .
For renewables, such as tidal, wind and solar PV, to become the main source of power supply, the electricity generated needs to be stored. Until renewables can answer the on-demand needs of C21st humanity, countries will remain hesitant to embrace the energy switch from hydrocarbons. To do this, a large, cheap battery that does not overheat is needed.
The battery to answer this need is the Antimony Molten Salt Battery! As global renewable energy expands, it will drive the uptake of the molten salt battery.
Molten Salt Batteries carry several inherent advantages over their solid state contemporaries. The batteries possess a higher current density, longer cycle life, and simplified manufacturing. Since no membranes or separator systems are involved, cycle life is higher and energy efficiency can be retained over a longer period of time. Since the battery is essentially a container with 3 liquid phases, construction is as simple as pouring the heavier metal into the bottom, the electrolyte in the middle, and the lighter electrode on top.The major drawback of this design is the high operating temperature required to keep the components in the liquid state. However in a grid scale application these elevated temperatures can easily be maintained using the heat generated during the charge and discharge cycles.
Growth in renewables is expected to expand the uptake of mass storage batteries, driving demand for antimony!
Traditionally, supply of antimony has come from China, which controls around 90% of global production. However, since 2013, China has limited exports. During 2019, China moved from being a net supplier of antimony, to an importer, sending prices soaring.
Meanwhile, the Western hemisphere countries recognise antimony as being central to molten salt batteries. However, supply outside of China is extremely limited. The US for instance does not have any producing antimony assets. Consequently, antimony is now on the critical metals lists in all major regions including Canada, UK, US and Europe.
Molten Metals has been presented with a unique opportunity to bring production back to the West with a rollup of antimony assets.
