What Raw Materials are Used to Make Mobile Phones?

By Owais AliUpdated on Oct 6 2025

Mobile phones have revolutionized our lives in ways nobody would have predicted 30 years ago. In the last decade, mobile phones have transformed from simple communication devices to portable computers through the innovative use of different materials and elements.

Image Credit: asharkyu/Shutterstock.com

What’s Inside a Mobile Phone?

The rise of mobile phones over the last decade is the most significant technological shift since the internet’s establishment as a global communication network in the 1990s. Since then, our lives have changed rapidly.

The seemingly limitless capabilities of mobile phones as entertainment gadgets, communication devices, and personal organizers are made possible by the unique qualities of the materials present within a mobile phone.

Various metals, composites, and compounds extracted from minerals and ores make up the electronic components of mobile phones. The perfect harmony of electronics and chemistry makes it possible for mobile phone users to communicate with the rest of the world via voice calls, text messages, and social media platforms.

As mobile phone technology advances, the chemical elements used to construct these devices will continue playing a crucial role in expanding their remarkable capabilities.

Metals

Metals are most often used in the circuitry and batteries of mobile phones. The following are some of the key metals used in modern mobile technology. 

Copper

Due to its high electrical and thermal conductivity, copper is used more than any other metal in mobile phone components. It is primarily used in cables, as well as chips and printed circuit boards, which incorporate copper for efficient signal transmission.

Additionally, copper is used in heat sinks due to its superior ability to dissipate heat.¹

Lithium

Lithium is a lightweight, rare-earth metal with a high electrical storage capacity. It is mined from hard rock ores and salt lakes and is primarily used in the production of mobile phone batteries.

Modern smartphones increasingly use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries as alternatives to traditional lithium cobalt oxide batteries, as this material provides improved safety and longevity.

Aluminum

Aluminum is primarily used in mobile phones to house electronic components. It forms the main body in many modern smartphones, such as the iPhone 17 Pro, and often shields the circuitry from the antenna's electromagnetic radiation.

Advanced aluminum alloys are increasingly being used to enhance heat dissipation and improve resistance to electromagnetic interference.^2,3

Iron and Steel

Iron is primarily used in the screws that assemble mobile phone components, while iron alloys are also employed in body parts and batteries to enhance durability and resistance to oxidation.

Steel is used in frames, screws, and internal brackets, where its structural strength and resistance to deformation help protect delicate electronic components. However, it adds more weight compared to lighter metals such as aluminum.⁴

Cobalt

Cobalt is the most expensive raw material, in part because it is one of the rarest. It is used in combination with lithium to extend the lifespan of mobile phone batteries, as it provides the highest energy density among metals. It is also used to coat copper wires, enhancing their durability.

Many manufacturers are developing cobalt-free battery technologies to address concerns over its unethical sourcing.

Tantalum

Tantalum is mainly used in mobile phones to manufacture capacitors that regulate the power supply within circuits. Its oxide layer provides high capacitance in a small volume, ensuring stable performance of processors, memory, and radios under thermal and electrical stress.

Nickel

Nickel is a tough, malleable, silvery metal used in mobile phone batteries, capacitors, and electrical connectors.

Tin and Lead

Tin is valued for its physical properties, availability, and low cost, and is primarily used to connect components to the motherboard through solder joints.

Lead was previously used in some solders due to its ductility; however, due to environmental and health concerns, lead-free soldering has become the industry standard.

Zinc

Zinc alloys with Aluminum and copper are used to manufacture microphones and speakers. They are also used in battery manufacturing. 

Gold and Silver

Gold is highly conductive and resistant to corrosion, making it essential for conductors, switches, buttons, RAM, motherboards, and cables.

Silver, also an excellent conductor, is widely used in switches, contacts, and the conductive lines of printed circuit boards.⁶

Metalloids

Silicon

Silicon is the primary material used in smartphone processors, valued for its semiconductor properties and wide availability in the Earth’s crust.

Recent advances in silicon processing have enabled the production of three-nanometer chips that power AI functions and support complex computational tasks in modern devices.

Silicon represents almost 25 % of the materials used to manufacture a smartphone. It is mainly used to make the processor of the mobile phone. Silicon is one of the most widely used materials in manufacturing mobile phones due to its unique properties as a semiconductor.

It is also relatively abundant, found in 30 % of the Earth's crust, making it very affordable for manufacturers.

Gallium and Gallium Arsenide

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) has become increasingly important in smartphone manufacturing, particularly for high-frequency components such as power amplifiers.

It offers superior performance to silicon in radio frequency applications, enabling faster data transmission and enhanced 5G connectivity. ⁷

Non-Metals

Graphite

Graphite is the primary anode material in lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones. Its layered structure enables the efficient movement of lithium ions during charging and discharging.

It is also applied as a thin heat-spreading film to dissipate heat from processors and batteries, ensuring stable performance and preventing overheating.⁸

Plastic

Plastic is mainly used to manufacture computer chip coatings, protective casings, and electrical components. Most mobile phone plastics are thermoset plastics such as fluoropolymer, polymethylmethacrylate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, phenol formaldehyde, and styrene because they are resistant to wear and the heat generated due to constant use.

Advanced bio-based plastics are increasingly being incorporated to reduce environmental impact while maintaining durability.

Glass

Glass is a significant component in mobile phones, particularly the screen; however, this is no ordinary glass. This glass is composed of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide, with an ultrathin coating of indium tin oxide added so the screen can be used without damage.

Most mobile phone manufacturers now use Gorilla Glass, a lightweight, thin, fortified glass produced by Corning.

Ultra-thin glass (UTG) is used in foldable smartphones, allowing displays to bend thousands of times without breaking.⁹

Other Critical Materials

Neodymium

Neodymium is the key rare earth element in Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets, which provide exceptional magnetic strength in compact formats. It is also used in high-performance speakers, microphones, and haptic actuators, enabling clear audio and precise tactile feedback in smartphones.

Dysprosium

Dysprosium is also incorporated into NdFeB magnets to improve high-temperature stability, ensuring consistent operation of haptic actuators, vibration motors, and speakers.

It prevents demagnetization under thermal stress and is also used in small amounts in lithium-ion battery cathodes to enhance thermal resilience and cycle life. Though modest in quantity, its contribution is critical for device longevity and safety.

Europium

Europium is indispensable in smartphone displays as the standard red phosphor dopant, producing sharp emission at 611 nm. It enables wide color gamut coverage and supports high-definition standards such as Rec. 2020, essential for vibrant and accurate visual performance in modern screens.^4,10

Ceramics

Barium titanate and other ceramic compounds are used in mobile phones for capacitors, filters, sensors, and sometimes as back covers, providing durability, insulation, and heat resistance. They also support miniaturization by enabling reliable performance in compact electronic components.¹¹

Adhesives and Resins

Adhesives and resins are applied to bond screens, batteries, and casings while sealing devices against dust and moisture. They contribute to structural integrity and allow slimmer designs by replacing traditional mechanical fasteners.

Modern smartphones rely on specialized adhesives, with the electronics industry consuming over 9,400 metric tons annually for mobile and wearable devices.¹²

Table 1: Raw Materials in Mobile Phones

Health Risks and Environmental Hazards Associated with the Raw Materials of Mobile Phones

A single mobile phone contains various materials that the EU Commission classified as rare Earth metals in 2014. In some countries, these materials are obtained through mining, a difficult and life-threatening process.

Aluminum, copper, and their supply chains are related to high CO2 emissions and risks of soil and water contamination.

Image Credit: asharkyu/Shutterstock.com

Due to their increasing popularity and limited lifespan, mobile phones constitute an ever-growing waste stream. Often, these gadgets cannot be repaired after malfunctioning. Moreover, less than 20 % of smartphone components are recyclable. As a result, a growing amount of electronic waste or e-waste accumulates on Earth.

The amount of e-waste on Earth in 2018 was around 50 tons, constantly increasing. In addition, the dangerous metals in old mobile phones can pollute our water supply if they are not properly recycled or disposed of.

Each mobile phone manufacturer has to look beyond its first consumer and consider creating a circular economy that reduces or eliminates waste by recycling valuable materials back into the manufacturing process.

These strategies could be advantageous for customers and the environment. However, devices hibernating in homes significantly hamper the adoption of circular economy strategies in the mobile phone value chain.

References and Further Reading

1. Lotzof, K. (2020). Your Mobile Phone is powered by Precious Metals and Minerals. [Online]. Natural History Museum. Available at: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/your-mobile-phone-is-powered-by-precious-metals-and-minerals.html
2. Renee Felton & Alex Kirschner. (2025). Apple unveils iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the most powerful and advanced Pro models ever. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/apple-unveils-iphone-17-pro-and-iphone-17-pro-max/
3. Jenness, J. E., Ober, J. A., Wilkins, A. M., & Gambogi, J. (2016). A world of minerals in your mobile device (No. 167). US Geological Survey. http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/gip167
4. SFA (Oxford). (2020). Critical Minerals in Smartphones. https://www.sfa-oxford.com/knowledge-and-insights/critical-minerals-in-low-carbon-and-future-technologies/critical-minerals-in-electronics/critical-minerals-in-smartphones/
5. Williams, M. A. (2019). Scientists use a blender to reveal what’s in our smartphones. University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/scientists-use-a-blender-to-reveal-whats-in-our-smartphones
6. Gómez, M., Grimes, S., Qian, Y., Feng, Y., & Fowler, G. (2023). Critical and strategic metals in mobile phones: A detailed characterisation of multigenerational waste mobile phones and the economic drivers for recovery of metal value. Journal of Cleaner Production, 419, 138099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138099
7. Bookhagen, B., Bastian, D., Buchholz, P., Faulstich, M., Opper, C., Irrgeher, J., Prohaska, T., & Koeberl, C. (2020). Metallic resources in smartphones. Resources Policy, 68, 101750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101750
8. Graphite-Corp. (2023). Graphite As the Anode Material in Lithium-Ion Batteries. https://www.graphite-corp.com/blog/graphite-as-the-anode-material-in-lithium-ion-batteries/
9. Trento, C. (2025). What is the Material of Your Phone Body? [Online]. Stanford Advanced Materials. Available at: https://www.samaterials.com/content/what-is-the-material-of-your-phone-body.html
10. Buechler, D. T., Zyaykina, N. N., Spencer, C. A., Lawson, E., Ploss, N. M., & Hua, I. (2020). Comprehensive elemental analysis of consumer electronic devices: Rare Earth, precious, and critical elements. Waste Management, 103, 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.014
11. Kim, J. Y., Choi, S. W., Park, K. S., Kim, Y., Kim, T., Lee, S. B., Lee, J., Kwon, S. E., Lee, Y., Kwon, D., Lee, S., & Cho, Y. S. (2024). High-strength low-k glass–ceramic composite covers for 6G communication mobile devices. Ceramics International, 50(19), 35725-35733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.06.390
12. Tong, C. (2022). Protective Packaging and Sealing Materials for 5G Mobile Devices. In: Advanced Materials and Components for 5G and Beyond. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 327. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17207-6_8
13. UN. (2024). The global E-waste Monitor 2024 – Electronic Waste Rising Five Times Faster than Documented E-waste Recycling. https://ewastemonitor.info/the-global-e-waste-monitor-2024/

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.