PLANET BORON

We have only one planet. Resources are finite, and it is our joint responsibility to take action to make the world a better place for future generations. Planet Boron is an initiative by Borates Today to harness the strengths and benefits of one of the world's most precious resources - BORON - and publish news and events about boron's availability, applications, benefits for achieving the collective vision and shared goals as we embrace multiple goals related to four key areas: Decarbonization; Advanced Energy, Food Security and Micronutrients.

DECARBONIZATION

ADVANCED ENERGY

FOOD SECURITY

MICRONUTRIENTS

Energy Management, RESEARCH

Boron Nitride Powers Thermal Conductivity

Boron nitride, also known as "white graphite," is a semiconductor material that conducts electricity. It is chemically inert and electrically insulating with no bandgap in the bulk phase that would allow it to emit light when excited by an energy source. Because of its excellent thermal conductivity properties, layers of boron nitride are often added onto other materials like silicon carbide (SiC) for use in high-efficiency power devices like thermoelectric cooler packages (TECs).

Agriculture, Human Health

Canola Needs Boron to Thrive

Canola is a Brassica family member with especially high boron requirements. Boron deficiency significantly impacts seed production; yields are doubled when 2 lbs of boron per acre are applied to the canola field with no visual anomalies.

Batteries and Capacitors, Company Profiles, RESEARCH

Company Profile of Li-S Energy Limited – Boron Battery

Li-S Energy Limited, established in 2019, is an Australian company, a joint venture between Li-S Energy's founding shareholders, PPK Group, BNNT Technology, and Deakin University. Its purpose is to develop a new battery technology that incorporates Boron Nitride Nanotubes, which are more efficient, lower cost, and greener than current batteries for markets including automotive, defense and aviation.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, PODCASTS

Podcast – Tesla and Boron

Tesla and boron. Tesla is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla manufacturers, electric cars and battery energy storage from home to grid scale, solar panels, solar roof tiles, and other related products and services.

Agriculture, Biocides, Crop Management, FOOD SECURITY

Boron for Plants

Boron for plants is an important micronutrient for plant growth. Boron deficiency in plants can lead to stunted growth and death of the plant. In addition, boron helps stop deforestation by preventing trees from taking up nutrients they require due to a lack of boron.

Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, Energy Management, Energy Management Systems

Boron and Infrared Rays: Applications in Energy Efficiency

Boronate Compounds, Carbon Cycle, DECARBONIZATION, Industrial emissions

Decarbonization: The Price of Progress

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors

Sodium Ion Battery Facts You Need To Know

Sodium ion battery is a new kind of battery being developed to meet the ever-growing demands of electric vehicles and has lower cost and improved safety.

DECARBONIZATION, MINING

Boron, ESG and the Mining Industry

The ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework is growing in significance for mining companies, including those involved in boron extraction. ESG is a set of practices that mines have to comply with to ensure their future sustainability. It will become an integral part of every mining operation worldwide shortly. ESG compliance is difficult for some mines because it requires them to alter their production methods or management style. However, it is not only possible but necessary.

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY, Food Stability, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Fertilisers

Today, we're going to look at the role of fertilizers in agriculture and in food security. The worldwide fertilizer market, which includes boron fertilizers is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 1.6, 9% up to 2027.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources

Boron in Solar Panels

Boron in solar panels is becoming more important in energy provision for advanced and developing countries. Over the past several decades, solar cell efficiency has steadily increased. This is due in part to the increase in the number of light-absorbing layers in a cell and partly due to boron in solar power working with silicon to optimize the energy generated by sunlight.

Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, RESEARCH

How Boron is Beneficial for Heat Conversion

FOOD SECURITY, MICRONUTRIENTS

Ensuring Micronutrient Boron Supply

Famine is a natural disaster that occurs in underdeveloped countries, famine areas, and war-torn regions. In these regions, micronutrients such as boron are scarce or unavailable to the local population. The lack of micronutrients leads to malnutrition which can cause poverty and other issues such as disease and death. Here is a discussion on the importance of micronutrients for famine relief efforts. Check out their benefits for mental health, physical health, and economic development.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Innovation, RESEARCH

Boron Monosulfide Nanosheets

Boron monosulfide nanosheets may provide efficient energy sources in applications including batteries, catalysts, and electronic devices. Boron monosulfide nanosheets unique structures, giving them exciting superconducting, thermoelectric properties.

ADVANCED ENERGY

Ammonia Borane Powers Space Exploration

Ammonia Borane is an excellent choice for rocket fuel given its ease of manufacture, availability, and low storage costs. It is also a good additive for jet fuel. Scientists at the University of California Riverside are testing ammonia borane, NH3BH3, as an alternative to traditional carbon-based chemical rocket fuels. This could lead to carbon-free space launches.

APPLICATIONS, Batteries and Capacitors, BENEFITS, Clean Fuels, Electricity Generation

Boron Helps Generate Cheap And Clean Electricity

Agriculture, Crop Management

Pomegranate Fruit and Boron

Pomegranate fruit is an excellent source of vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and other minerals. However, the fruit may lose its quality due to fruit cracking. This is due to inadequate water management or lacking essential micronutrients such as boron and calcium.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Clean Fuels

Clean Energy: California On Track To Lead the Way

California is on the path to clean energy by achieving 85% by 2030. With this, the state strives to become a clean energy leader in the United States.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources, Nuclear Energy, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Rocket Fuel

In today's podcast, we're going to look at research into how boron can be used as rocket fuel. Boron has a high intrinsic energy density. It's inexpensive, plentiful, and stable, making it a good choice for solid rocket fuels and an additive for jet fuels to increase energy output.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, Energy Management

Boron and Micro-Supercapacitors

Boron nitride (BN) has shown great potential for microelectronics in the architecture of micro-supercapacitors. Boron Nitride has a large bandgap (5.5eV), superior thermal stability, and high thermal conductance. Boron Micro-supercapacitors in the laboratory exhibit high energy density. They can also withstand harsh environments such as high temperature or electromagnetic interference much better than silicon-based micro capacitors.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Agriculture, Anti-fungal, Biocides, Pest Control

Boron in Road Construction

Boron in Road Construction: Boron waste is discharged in the production of borax pentahydrate, borax decahydrate, anhydrous borax, and other compounds, with volumes increasing annually. But there is a solution. Given the right circumstances, boron waste can build a strong road base.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources

Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives

Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives - Boron has been proven to be an excellent lubricant for engine components. University of Utah researchers found that parts coated with boron had 50% less friction than others. This may result in significant fuel savings and increased engine durability. Boron should become an essential ingredient in fuels and engine technology once its potential benefits are further clarified.

DECARBONIZATION, MINING

Rio Tinto Decarbonization

Rio Tinto announced a $7.5 billion plan to reduce carbon emissions to 50% by 2030 in October 2021. Rio Tinto stated that it aimed to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2020 as steel and iron ore producers push for compliance with international climate commitments. Rio pushed forward its 2020 target for a 15% reduction of emissions from 2018, five years earlier than it had previously planned.

ADVANCED ENERGY

Double-Layer Borophene Created in Engineering Breakthrough

Research has led to a double-layer of borophene for the first time. This is significant because it could lead to faster, more efficient electronics that are also smaller and lighter than current models. Borophene is under study for less than 10 years but already holds potential as an exciting new material in engineering. The research team hopes that this will be the first step towards creating "graphene on steroids."

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, PODCASTS

Podcast – Lithium Battery Prices Set to Soar

Lithium battery prices have been steadily increasing since 2022 taking both manufacturers and consumers by surprise. This shift marks a significant rise and is a trend set to continue over the next few years.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources

Borates in Adhesives

Borates in Adhesives: Borates are used for home and commercial use. For commercial use, they are commonly used in adhesives by the paperboard and corrugated paper industries. The primary chemical compounds for adhesive applications are sodium decahydrate, borax decahydrate, and boric acid.

Boron inside - in Boron Neodymium Magnets

ADVANCED ENERGY

Rare Earth Magnet Producers Using Boron to Get Tax Credits

Boron is giving a shot in the arm to North America’s alternate energy transition initiatives, a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation to extend tax credits to companies that domestically produce rare earth magnets with boron and other minerals inside.

DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors

The Sodium-ion Battery Market

The Sodium-ion battery is a promising technology for electric vehicles. Reliance Industries aims to tap into this growing market with its extensive reach.

Carbon Cycle, DECARBONIZATION, Energy Management, Environmental Protection

Boron Reduces Carbon Dioxide

Boron reduces carbon dioxide: Boron is one such amazing catalyst that reduces CO2 in the presence of only water and light irradiation. This serves as a foundation for a new and more efficient method of transforming CO2 into a usable carbon source for manufacturing fuels and chemicals.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors

Battery Storage is The Top Climate Tech Investment

Battery storage is set to be the most in-demand climate technology investment, and this is even more promising as boron can be used in developing lithium batteries.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors

Boron in Green Sodium Batteries

Boron inclusive technology shows how we can harness the power from seawater to bring zero-carbon energy worldwide. Decarbonization has been a goal for quite some time, and it seems like this year, governments will finally agree on stricter regulations that would make it possible to achieve this objective by 2050 or sooner. Boron has been working to bring sustainable energy sources for all, and Boron and Hydropower technology is an excellent example of achieving this goal.

ADVANCED ENERGY, APPLICATIONS, Clean Fuels

Boron Fuel

Boron Fuel - While lithium-ion batteries are powering the road ahead for electric vehicles such as the Tesla S and others, several disruptive scientists and entrepreneurs are paving the way for an entirely new form of fuel – Hydrogen Boron fuel. Analysts claim a single gram of Boron could provide enough fuel to allow a vehicle to travel 80,000 kilometres.

Agriculture, Crop Management, Food Availability

Alfalfa Plant Needs A Powerful Dose Of Boron

Alfalfa plant need boron to thrive and reach their full potential. It's a trace element, but even in small amounts, it can make all the difference for this plant.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, VIDEO

Video – The Rapid Growth of the Battery Storage Market

Boron is powering the future of battery storage technology, making it an outstanding investment for those looking to capitalize on energy storage.

DECARBONIZATION

Critical Material Boron Powering Decarbonization

Boron is a critical raw material for many sectors such as solar cells, fiber optics, and semiconductor manufacturing. Boron production is also tied to other elements like lithium which are increasingly in demand.

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY

Boron Fertilizers

Boron helps to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers by making them more available to plants and plays a vital role in Food Security. Industrial production of fertilizer has increased necessitating a need for sustainability with boron and nitrogen that drive industry.

Human Health, MICRONUTRIENTS

Increase Libido with Boron Fruit Juice

Mineral boron is a key player in maintaining libido levels and a healthy life. Natural foods and vegetables contain boron which can be enjoyed in the form of Juices. Some of the most popular include celery juice, parsley juice, and broccoli juice.

FOOD SECURITY

Fluoride Toxicity With Boron

Fluoride is a toxic chemical that can cause severe health problems despite the best efforts of the WHO to provide recommended levels of fluoride intake by source. Fluoride toxicity is seen in both animals and humans but how can boron help to lower toxicity.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Energy Management

Solar Cell – The Science Behind Solar Energy

A solar cell or photovoltaic (PV) cell is made of semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity. But how does it work and what role does boron play in solar cells?

Podcast – Novel Applications in BNNTs

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, MINING, PODCASTS

Podcast – Novel Applications in BNNTs

Today, we're going to look at novel applications using boron nitride nanotubes. Boron nitride nanotubes, or BNNTs, are mechanically and structurally identical to carbon nanotubes. BNNTs, however, have unique properties that are electrically insulating as well as transparent because of the polarized boron nitride bond.

Reduce Carbon Emissions with Boron Technologies

By Borates Today | DECARBONIZATION

Reduce Carbon Emissions with Boron Technologies

Global Food Dynamics and Boron

By Borates Today | Food Access, Food Availability, FOOD SECURITY, Food Stability

Global Food Dynamics and Boron

Global Food Dynamics and Boron: According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), nearly 1/3 of all fruit & vegetables produced globally are wasted each year. How can Boron Help alleviate this wastage?

Podcast – Sustainable Agriculture and Boron

By Borates Today | Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY, PODCASTS

Podcast – Sustainable Agriculture and Boron

In today's podcast, we're going to look at sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture uses micronutrients such as boron, zinc, and copper to promote soil health and support healthy plant growth.

Ammonia Borane Powers Space Exploration

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY

Ammonia Borane Powers Space Exploration

Boron and Photocatalysis

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources

Boron and Photocatalysis

The increasing reliance on renewable energy sources has led to many studies and research into boron and photocatalysis for applications ranging from solar energy, pollutant removal, artificial photosynthesis to energy storage and fuel evolution.

Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining

By Borates Today | DECARBONIZATION, MINING

Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining

Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining: Lithium and boron are two examples of crucial minerals essential in reducing our planet's carbon footprint for industries such as defense, automotive, construction, aviation, and aerospace. It is challenging to preserve the natural environment when starting new mines to extract these resources. How do companies such as Rio Tinto, American Pacific Borates (currently rebranding to 5E Advanced Materials), and Ioneer manage this dilemma and obtain the permits necessary in their respective locations?

Boron in Road Construction

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Agriculture, Anti-fungal, Biocides, Pest Control