来源：科技日报 ◎ 科技日报记者 张蕴 通讯员 田芮溪 团队核心成员罗昔贤回忆说，团队原本是做稀土基础研究的。一次偶然的实验观察让团队发现，稀土离 子既能实现显色，又能避开重金属毒性。于是，这支科研团队正式踏上了环保颜料的研发之路。 硅铝酸盐在制备和使用过程中对环境友好，符合理想着色颜料要求。研发过程中，团队面临的最大挑 战，在于稀土离子光学行为的精准调控与色系饱和度的高效优化。团队需要在成千上万种材料组合中筛 选合适的宽带隙基质。为此，团队在实验室里度过了无数个不眠之夜，仅稀土离子与宽带隙基质材料的 匹配实验就做了上千次。 在成本控制方面，团队同样实现了突破。硅铝酸盐是地壳中储量最丰富的矿物之一，来源广泛且价格低 廉。生产该颜料所需的稀土离子多为市场需求较小的元素，成本优势明显。 目前，团队已经实现了绿、黄、橙、红四大色系颜料的稳定产出，并与大连金普新区达成初步合作意 向，通过校地合作建立500吨级试验生产线，实现量产。 色彩鲜艳的玩具、印刷精美的包装……一些工业颜料为了保持颜色持久鲜亮，可能会含有少量铅、镉、 汞等重金属。即便采用包覆技术，仍难以完全杜绝重金属在特定环境下溶出，进而通过接触、吸入或误 食进 ...

Core Viewpoint - Rare earth elements are critical strategic resources with significant economic and strategic importance, often referred to as the "vitamins of modern industry" and the "new material treasure trove of the 21st century" [15][13]. Group 1: Importance of Rare Earth Elements - Rare earth elements possess unique magnetic, optical, and electrical properties, making them essential in various high-tech applications across 13 fields and over 40 industries, including aerospace, new energy vehicles, and defense [15][18]. - The U.S. Department of Defense has identified five rare earth elements as critical for clean energy technologies and supply chain risks [18]. - China holds the largest reserves of rare earth elements, accounting for over 90% of global market demand despite having only 23% of the world's total reserves [27][36]. Group 2: Global Competition and Strategic Significance - The competition for rare earth resources is intensifying globally, with countries like the U.S., Japan, and Australia implementing strategic plans to secure their supply chains [20][18]. - Rare earths are indispensable in the production of advanced military technologies, including missiles, radars, and satellites, highlighting their strategic military importance [97][98]. Group 3: China's Dominance in Rare Earth Production - China has established itself as the world's leading producer of rare earth elements, with production levels exceeding 85% of global output in 2019 [75][27]. - The Baiyun Obo mine in Inner Mongolia is the largest rare earth mine globally, contributing significantly to China's production capacity [37][27]. Group 4: Challenges and Sustainable Development - The rare earth industry faces challenges such as low extraction efficiency, environmental pollution, and a lack of high-end products, necessitating improvements in technology and sustainable practices [42][90]. - There is a pressing need for efficient and balanced utilization of rare earth resources to address global sustainability concerns [79][80]. Group 5: Applications of Rare Earth Materials - Rare earth magnetic materials are crucial in various applications, including clean energy, satellite communication, and medical technologies, with a significant portion of their use in high-end sectors [63][70]. - The demand for rare earth permanent magnets is increasing, with China being the largest producer and consumer in this sector [75][70].