Vanadium, though less well-known than many other metals, has a rich history and an increasingly important future in modern technology. Its discovery dates back to 1801 when Spanish-Mexican mineralogist Andrés Manuel del Río first identified a new element in a sample of lead ore. He initially called it “erythronium” because of the red colour the compounds exhibited when heated. However, due to the confusion surrounding its chemical nature, del Río’s discovery was largely forgotten.
It wasn’t until 1831 that vanadium was rediscovered by Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefström. He identified the element in a sample of iron ore and named it after Vanadis, the Norse goddess of beauty and fertility, due to the wide range of colours seen in its compounds. By the mid-19th century, vanadium was recognised for its unique properties, including its ability to significantly strengthen steel. This characteristic would later become central to vanadium’s industrial applications.
In the early 20th century, vanadium began to gain attention in the manufacturing world, particularly in the production of high-strength steel alloys. It was used extensively in the automobile industry; Henry Ford, for example, adopted vanadium steel in the Model T, making the vehicle lighter and more durable than its competitors. This marked the beginning of vanadium’s role in revolutionising engineering and construction.
Throughout the 20th century, vanadium became a critical component in various industrial applications. It was used in jet engines, pipelines, and rebar for construction, among other uses. Its ability to improve the strength and resistance of steel made it indispensable in projects where durability and resilience were paramount. Vanadium pentoxide, a compound of the metal, found use in catalysts and ceramics, expanding the metal’s reach beyond metallurgy.
Today, vanadium’s future looks increasingly tied to renewable energy, as its role in the development of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) could prove transformative. These batteries, designed for large-scale energy storage, are particularly suited for storing intermittent renewable energy from wind and solar power. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, VRFBs have a longer lifespan, are safer due to their non-flammable nature, and can be fully recycled at the end of their service life. This makes them an attractive option for grid-scale energy storage solutions, particularly as the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources.
As countries around the globe seek to meet ambitious climate targets, demand for renewable energy and efficient storage solutions is growing rapidly. Vanadium could play a crucial role in stabilising energy grids and improving the efficiency of energy storage systems. This has led to a surge in interest in vanadium exploration and mining, with countries like China, South Africa, and Australia emerging as key players in vanadium production.
In addition to energy storage, vanadium’s applications are expanding into other high-tech fields, such as aerospace and 3D printing. The ongoing research into vanadium-based alloys aims to create materials that are even stronger, lighter, and more heat-resistant than traditional steel alloys, which could open up new possibilities in advanced manufacturing and space exploration.
Vanadium’s journey from a forgotten element to a metal with vast potential illustrates how materials science can shape the future. As the global push for sustainability and efficiency grows stronger, vanadium stands out as a metal poised to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Its role in energy storage, combined with its established use in strengthening materials, ensures that vanadium will continue to be a key player in both industry and technology for decades to come.
Ferro-Alloy Resources Ltd (LON:FAR) is developing the giant Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Kyzylordinskaya oblast of southern Kazakhstan. The ore at this deposit is unlike that of nearly all other primary vanadium deposits and is capable of being treated by a much lower cost process.
