What is manganese, and how is it used in sustainable infrastructure and energy storage?

As the global economy pivots toward decarbonization, manganese emerges as a crucial material supporting this transition. It plays a foundational role in technologies ranging from battery storage to sustainable construction materials. Understanding the properties and applications of manganese is key to advancing clean energy and infrastructure while ensuring more ethical and cost-effective supply chains.

This blog will explore the expanding role of manganese in energy storage and infrastructure, detail its classification as a critical mineral, and assess its advantages over alternatives such as cobalt. We’ll also examine its underutilization in battery supply chains, its environmental and social impacts, and recent innovations in manganese-rich battery chemistries.

What is manganese?

Manganese is a silvery-gray metal, commonly found in minerals and used primarily in metallurgical applications. It exhibits several important properties: it is hard, brittle, and highly reactive with oxygen. Manganese exists in multiple oxidation states, which enables its versatility in chemical processes. These characteristics make it invaluable in both industrial and energy-related applications.

Thanks to its chemical and metallurgical properties, manganese is widely used in several sectors. Over 90% of the world’s manganese supply is consumed by the steel industry, where it enhances strength, acts as a deoxidizer, and helps remove sulfur impurities. Manganese is also critical to battery manufacturing, particularly in lithium-ion chemistries, and is used in water treatment and chemical production.

Why is manganese important?

Manganese is a critically important metal with a wide range of applications that make it essential for modern industry and the transition to a sustainable future. Approximately 90% of all manganese is used in the steel industry, where it plays a vital role in strengthening steel and improving its workability. Beyond metallurgy, manganese is also a key component in lithium-ion batteries, supporting the growing electric vehicle market and energy storage technologies. Additionally, it is used in the chemical industry, particularly in water treatment processes.

What makes manganese especially important for the future is its ability to enable clean energy storage, including batteries and electric vehicles; support the development of sustainable infrastructure through its role in steel and construction materials; and enhance national strategic resilience, as it is classified as a critical mineral in the U.S. and other countries. Furthermore, manganese offers a pathway to more affordable, scalable, and ethically sourced technology supply chains, making it a cornerstone of the green economy.

Manganese in clean energy and battery technologies

Manganese plays an increasingly vital role in the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and grid-scale energy storage. It is a key component in cathode materials such as nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium manganese oxide (LMO). These chemistries offer high performance, improved safety, and lower costs than cobalt-rich alternatives. Manganese helps stabilize battery cathodes and enhances thermal performance, making batteries safer and more durable.

The essential role of manganese in steel and infrastructure

Despite emerging applications in energy storage, over 90% of manganese is still used in the steel industry. It is indispensable for deoxidizing and desulfurizing steel, and for increasing hardness and durability. As global investments in green infrastructure, clean transportation, and urban expansion accelerate, steel demand continues to rise, reinforcing manganese’s centrality to modern infrastructure development.

Strategic and critical mineral designation of manganese

Manganese is officially designated as a critical mineral by several major economies, including the United States, the European Union, and India. This status reflects its importance in defense, advanced technologies, and clean energy transitions. Yet, manganese supply is geographically concentrated, with major producers located in South Africa, Australia, Gabon, China, and Brazil. Many consuming nations, including the U.S., are significantly import-dependent, adding to the strategic urgency to diversify supply sources.

Environmental and social impact advantages of manganese over cobalt

Manganese mining generally presents fewer ethical challenges than cobalt, which is often associated with child labor and unsafe working conditions. In battery applications, manganese chemistries tend to be less toxic and more environmentally benign. For example, lithium manganese oxide (LMO) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) offer cleaner alternatives with reduced ecological footprints.

Manganese innovations in battery chemistry

Emerging battery chemistries are capitalizing on the benefits of manganese. Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) batteries are gaining traction for their safety, lower cost, and reduced reliance on cobalt. High-manganese cathodes also show promise for delivering higher energy density at reduced expense. Companies like Tesla, Volkswagen, and CATL are actively investing in these technologies, signaling strong industrial momentum.

Recyclability and circular economy potential of manganese

Manganese is recoverable from battery waste, slags, and tailings, supporting a more circular materials economy. By recovering manganese from used products, manufacturers can reduce reliance on virgin extraction, cut costs, and promote environmental sustainability.

Where are manganese deposits and producers?

Manganese deposits are found across several key regions around the world, with production concentrated in a few major countries.

• South Africa holds some of the largest and most high-grade manganese reserves globally and is one of the leading exporters.
• Australia is another significant producer, with extensive manganese mining operations supporting both domestic use and international markets.
• Gabon in West Africa is known for its high-quality ore and plays a crucial role in the global manganese supply.
• China, while a major consumer, also has notable domestic production capabilities.
• Brazil rounds out the list of major producers, contributing to the global supply with its substantial manganese reserves and mining infrastructure.

These countries collectively form the backbone of the world’s manganese production, making them strategically important in the global materials economy.

How is manganese analyzed?

Manganese is analyzed using a range of techniques that provide critical information about its composition, mineralogy, and behavior during processing.

• X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to determine the mineralogical composition of manganese-bearing materials, which is essential for understanding the different oxidation states (valence stages) manganese can exhibit. This information is important because the oxidation state affects how manganese behaves in various chemical and metallurgical processes.
• X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is commonly used to measure the total manganese content in a sample. This technique is highly versatile, with instruments ranging from portable handheld devices to advanced floor-standing systems used in laboratories, allowing for on-site analysis as well as high-precision assessments.
• Particle size distribution (PSD) analysis is another key method, particularly important during processing stages such as flotation and leaching. The size of particles can significantly influence the efficiency of these separation and extraction processes.
• Lastly, density measurements are crucial in flotation, as they affect how particles separate based on their specific gravities. Understanding the density of manganese minerals helps optimize the recovery and concentration of manganese during mineral processing.

What is the importance of manganese waste in cement production?

Manganese waste is gaining attention as a valuable resource in cement production, offering a sustainable solution for managing industrial byproducts, particularly ferromanganese slags and manganese tailings. This approach aligns with circular economy principles by transforming waste into useful construction materials.

One major application is the use of manganese slag as a raw material substitute in clinker production. Manganese slag typically contains silica (SiO₂), alumina (Al₂O₃), lime (CaO), and iron oxides (Fe₂O₃), all of which are essential components of Portland cement clinker. As a result, manganese slag can partially replace traditional raw materials such as limestone, clay, and iron ore in the cement manufacturing process.

Another method involves treating manganese-rich residues to serve as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). After processes like grinding and chemical neutralization, these materials can exhibit pozzolanic properties, similar to fly ash or granulated blast furnace slag. Incorporating them into concrete formulations can enhance strength, durability, and control over setting time.

Additionally, finely ground manganese waste can be used as a filler in blended cement or concrete mixtures. As an inert or semi-reactive additive, it helps reduce the amount of cement required, thus lowering production costs and contributing to more sustainable construction practices.

The benefits of integrating manganese waste into cement production are substantial. It helps reduce the volume of industrial waste that would otherwise be stored in landfills or tailings ponds. Environmentally, it contributes to lower CO₂ emissions by reducing the need for energy-intensive clinker production. Economically, it cuts costs by substituting natural raw materials with industrial byproducts. In some cases, manganese compounds can even enhance the mechanical properties of cement, leading to stronger and more durable construction materials.

How is manganese used in research and industry?

Manganese is increasingly being explored in both research and industrial applications, particularly in the context of sustainable construction materials. In countries such as India, China, and South Africa, pilot and commercial-scale projects have successfully integrated ferromanganese slag into cement manufacturing. These initiatives demonstrate the practical viability of repurposing manganese byproducts in large-scale industrial processes.

Research studies support these efforts, showing that replacing 10–15% of the raw mix in cement production with manganese slag can produce cement with comparable or even improved mechanical strength. This not only validates the structural performance of manganese-enhanced cement but also highlights its potential to reduce environmental impact and reliance on conventional raw materials. These findings underscore the growing interest in manganese as a component of innovative, low-waste construction technologies.

Want to learn about cutting-edge manganese analysis solutions? Contact our experts to find out more.

Further reads

• What is manganese, and how is it used in sustainable infrastructure and energy storage?
• What are rare-earth elements? A guide to REE mining and analysis
• 6 Precious metal analysis methods using advanced analytical technologies
• Recap: Future Days Battery Edition 2025
• Optimizing XRD throughput with the Aeris High-Capacity Sample Changer: Key insights from our webinar