According to the announcement jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs on August 15, 2024, from September 15, 2024, antimony-related items such as antimony ore and raw materials, antimony metal and products that meet the specified characteristics, as well as superhard materials-related items that meet the specified characteristics are not allowed to be exported. The news has raised concerns about supply chains in some Western countries, but the main purpose of this move is to safeguard national security and interests, fulfill international obligations, and not target any specific country or region.
As a key strategic resource, antimony occupies an important position in the global economy, especially in semiconductors, military and other fields. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of antimony, accounting for more than 80% of the global market. As a result, export control policies will have a significant impact on the global market, potentially leading to a global supply shortage of antimony, driving up prices, and affecting the cost structure and production plans of downstream industries that rely on antimony resources.
Antimony is used in a wide range of applications in the field of semiconductors:
Compound semiconductor materials
Indium antimonide (InSb) and gallium antimonide (GaSb): These two compounds are important forms of antimony in semiconductors. They have unique electronic and optical properties, such as narrow band gap, high electron mobility, high quantum efficiency, and fast response speed, which make them important in applications such as infrared detectors, optoelectronic devices, and high-speed electronic devices. For example, they are widely used in devices such as infrared sensors, infrared detectors, infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, converters, and thermostatic optoelectronic systems.
Other antimony compounds: In addition to indium antimonide and gallium antimonide, other antimony compounds such as arsenic antimonide (AsSb) also have some applications in semiconductors, although they may not be as common as the first two.
Figure: Application of antimony in semiconductors
Alloy material
Antimony-lead alloys: The alloy formed by antimony and lead is used as an electrical contact material in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, especially in the manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and solder alloys to enhance hardness and improve corrosion resistance. The introduction of this alloy can significantly improve the durability and reliability of semiconductor devices.
Semiconductor doped materials
Antimony can also be introduced as a doping material into semiconductors such as silicon and germanium to regulate its conductivity. When antimony atoms are doped, the conductivity of silicon or germanium increases, forming n-type semiconductors (electron-rich semiconductors), which are critical in the manufacture of various electronic devices.
Thermoelectric materials
Antimony combined with elements such as tellurium and bismuth to form compounds such as bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)) are widely used as thermoelectric materials. These materials can generate voltages at temperature differences and are used in thermoelectric power generation devices and thermoelectric refrigeration devices. The application of thermoelectric materials provides new solutions for energy conversion and temperature control.
Photovoltaic materials
In the field of photovoltaics, gallium antimonide solar cells have attracted much attention due to their high conversion efficiency and low cost. Gallium antimonide acts as a light-absorbing layer that absorbs the energy of sunlight and converts it into electricity. Antimony metal plays an important role in tuning the spectral response of gallium antimonide solar cells.
In the long run, antimony export controls may prompt other countries to increase their mining and investment in antimony resources, creating a new market competition pattern. At the same time, it may also promote the development of domestic high-tech industries such as semiconductors and electronic materials, and cope with the uncertainty and potential conflicts in the international market.
