High-purity arsenic is the toxic but essential feedstock for GaAs compound semiconductors used in AI data center photonics and high-frequency RF. Explore arsenic refining challenges, extreme toxicity handling, China-dominated supply risks, recycling from GaAs waste, and its growing importance for AI infrastructure.
Boron makes up just 1–1.2% of sintered NdFeB permanent magnets but is essential for the magnetic strength, coercivity, and thermal stability needed in AI data center HDD spindle motors, cooling fans, and precision motors. Learn about the high-purity refining process, abundant global supply from the US and Turkey, China concentration risks in magnet production, and strong demand growth from the AI buildout.
Neodymium (NdFeB) magnets are critical to AI infrastructure. They power high-efficiency cooling motors in data centers and enable ultraprecision motion control in ASML EUV lithography machines. Explore surging demand, China’s dominance in the supply chain, Western production ramp-ups, and recycling efforts in 2026.
Indium powers InP lasers critical for 800G and 1.6T optical interconnects in AI data centers. Explore the complex refining process, China’s 70% dominance in indium production, export controls driving price spikes, looming supply shortfalls, and how Chinese firms like Huawei are mitigating risks through silicon photonics, quantum dot lasers, and co-packaged optics (CPO).
Gallium is a critical yet highly inelastic byproduct of aluminum and zinc refining, essential for GaN power devices, GaAs RF chips, and InP photonics that enable efficient AI data centers, high-speed interconnects, and 5G infrastructure. Learn about extreme purity requirements, steep marginal costs for additional supply, China’s 98–99% dominance, export controls, and emerging recycling and diversification efforts needed to secure the AI buildout.