Cobalt
Cobalt has the symbol Co and is the 27th element on the periodic table. It is identified by the CAS number 7440-48-4.
How is Cobalt Used?
Cobalt’s main application is lithium-ion batteries in the form of lithium cobalt oxide, LiCoO2. Batteries provide power by creating an electric current. In the case of a lithium-ion battery, electrons get released to form a current as lithium ions travel from the anode, sometimes made of graphite, towards the cathode, made of lithium cobalt oxide. Electric vehicles, computers and phones use lithium-ion batteries. As the demand for these devices increases, the strain on cobalt mining increases.