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28

Ni

Nickel

Atomic Mass

58.6934

Element Profile

NICKEL

Transition metal

HighGenesis 12 ActiveQ2 2026 Reviewed

Nickel is used in stainless steel, superalloys, and high-energy battery systems.

Launch Engine

Periodic Context

Current elementConnected elementsGenesis 12 active
H
HeLi
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Ne
Na
Mg
AlSi
P
S
Cl
Ar
K
Ca
Sc
Ti
V
CrMnFeCo
Ni
Cu
Zn
GaGe
As
Se
Br
Kr
Rb
Sr
Y
Zr
Nb
Mo
Tc
Ru
Rh
Pd
Ag
Cd
In
Sn
Sb
Te
I
Xe
Cs
Ba
La
Ce
Pr
Nd
Pm
Sm
Eu
Gd
Tb
Dy
Ho
Er
Tm
Yb
Lu
Hf
TaW
Re
Os
Ir
Pt
Au
Hg
Tl
Pb
Bi
Po
At
Rn
Fr
Ra
Ac
Th
Pa
U
Np
Pu
Am
Cm
Bk
Cf
Es
Fm
Md
No
Lr
Rf
Db
Sg
Bh
Hs
Mt
Ds
Rg
Cn
Nh
Fl
Mc
Lv
Ts
Og

Nickel connects to battery chemistries, stainless steel, and Class 1 industrial materials.

Fiji: modeled context not active yetTanzania: modeled context not active yetW. Sahara: modeled context not active yetCanada: modeled context not active yetUnited States of America: modeled supply contextKazakhstan: modeled context not active yetUzbekistan: modeled context not active yetPapua New Guinea: modeled context not active yetIndonesia: modeled context not active yetArgentina: modeled context not active yetChile: modeled context not active yetDem. Rep. Congo: modeled context not active yetSomalia: modeled context not active yetKenya: modeled context not active yetSudan: modeled context not active yetChad: modeled context not active yetHaiti: modeled context not active yetDominican Rep.: modeled context not active yetRussia: modeled supply contextBahamas: modeled context not active yetFalkland Is.: modeled context not active yetNorway: modeled context not active yetGreenland: modeled context not active yetFr. S. Antarctic Lands: modeled context not active yetTimor-Leste: modeled context not active yetSouth Africa: modeled context not active yetLesotho: modeled context not active yetMexico: modeled context not active yetUruguay: modeled context not active yetBrazil: modeled context not active yetBolivia: modeled context not active yetPeru: modeled context not active yetColombia: modeled context not active yetPanama: modeled context not active yetCosta Rica: modeled context not active yetNicaragua: modeled context not active yetHonduras: modeled context not active yetEl Salvador: modeled context not active yetGuatemala: modeled context not active yetBelize: modeled context not active yetVenezuela: modeled context not active yetGuyana: modeled context not active yetSuriname: modeled context not active yetFrance: modeled context not active yetEcuador: modeled context not active yetPuerto Rico: modeled context not active yetJamaica: modeled context not active yetCuba: modeled context not active yetZimbabwe: modeled context not active yetBotswana: modeled context not active yetNamibia: modeled context not active yetSenegal: modeled context not active yetMali: modeled context not active yetMauritania: modeled context not active yetBenin: modeled context not active yetNiger: modeled context not active yetNigeria: modeled context not active yetCameroon: modeled context not active yetTogo: modeled context not active yetGhana: modeled context not active yetCôte d'Ivoire: modeled context not active yetGuinea: modeled context not active yetGuinea-Bissau: modeled context not active yetLiberia: modeled context not active yetSierra Leone: modeled context not active yetBurkina Faso: modeled context not active yetCentral African Rep.: modeled context not active yetCongo: modeled context not active yetGabon: modeled context not active yetEq. Guinea: modeled context not active yetZambia: modeled context not active yetMalawi: modeled context not active yetMozambique: modeled context not active yeteSwatini: modeled context not active yetAngola: modeled context not active yetBurundi: modeled context not active yetIsrael: modeled context not active yetLebanon: modeled context not active yetMadagascar: modeled context not active yetPalestine: modeled context not active yetGambia: modeled context not active yetTunisia: modeled context not active yetAlgeria: modeled context not active yetJordan: modeled context not active yetUnited Arab Emirates: modeled context not active yetQatar: modeled context not active yetKuwait: modeled context not active yetIraq: modeled context not active yetOman: modeled context not active yetVanuatu: modeled context not active yetCambodia: modeled context not active yetThailand: modeled context not active yetLaos: modeled context not active yetMyanmar: modeled context not active yetVietnam: modeled context not active yetNorth Korea: modeled context not active yetSouth Korea: modeled supply contextMongolia: modeled context not active yetIndia: modeled context not active yetBangladesh: modeled context not active yetBhutan: modeled context not active yetNepal: modeled context not active yetPakistan: modeled context not active yetAfghanistan: modeled context not active yetTajikistan: modeled context not active yetKyrgyzstan: modeled context not active yetTurkmenistan: modeled context not active yetIran: modeled context not active yetSyria: modeled context not active yetArmenia: modeled context not active yetSweden: modeled context not active yetBelarus: modeled context not active yetUkraine: modeled context not active yetPoland: modeled context not active yetAustria: modeled context not active yetHungary: modeled context not active yetMoldova: modeled context not active yetRomania: modeled context not active yetLithuania: modeled context not active yetLatvia: modeled context not active yetEstonia: modeled context not active yetGermany: modeled supply contextBulgaria: modeled context not active yetGreece: modeled context not active yetTurkey: modeled context not active yetAlbania: modeled context not active yetCroatia: modeled context not active yetSwitzerland: modeled context not active yetLuxembourg: modeled context not active yetBelgium: modeled context not active yetNetherlands: modeled context not active yetPortugal: modeled context not active yetSpain: modeled context not active yetIreland: modeled context not active yetNew Caledonia: modeled context not active yetSolomon Is.: modeled context not active yetNew Zealand: modeled context not active yetAustralia: modeled context not active yetSri Lanka: modeled context not active yetChina: modeled supply contextTaiwan: modeled supply contextItaly: modeled context not active yetDenmark: modeled context not active yetUnited Kingdom: modeled context not active yetIceland: modeled context not active yetAzerbaijan: modeled context not active yetGeorgia: modeled context not active yetPhilippines: modeled context not active yetMalaysia: modeled context not active yetBrunei: modeled context not active yetSlovenia: modeled context not active yetFinland: modeled context not active yetSlovakia: modeled context not active yetCzechia: modeled context not active yetEritrea: modeled context not active yetJapan: modeled supply contextParaguay: modeled context not active yetYemen: modeled context not active yetSaudi Arabia: modeled context not active yetN. Cyprus: modeled context not active yetCyprus: modeled context not active yetMorocco: modeled context not active yetEgypt: modeled context not active yetLibya: modeled context not active yetEthiopia: modeled context not active yetDjibouti: modeled context not active yetSomaliland: modeled context not active yetUganda: modeled context not active yetRwanda: modeled context not active yetBosnia and Herz.: modeled context not active yetMacedonia: modeled context not active yetSerbia: modeled context not active yetMontenegro: modeled context not active yetKosovo: modeled context not active yetTrinidad and Tobago: modeled context not active yetS. Sudan: modeled context not active yet
Indonesia

Nickel production growth

China

Processing and stainless/battery demand

Canada

Allied nickel and cobalt supply

Map Legend

Critical concentration
Production / source node
Processing / manufacturing

Key Takeaway

Nickel exposure depends on whether supply can serve both stainless steel demand and battery-grade nickel requirements.

Modeled intelligence. Not government data.

Nickel

Element Intelligence

How Nickel functions across real-world systems and future Periodic Engine economy layers.

Element Overview

Nickel is a transition metal used in stainless steel, batteries, superalloys, plating, and high-temperature systems.

OverviewMaterial Input

Sector Exposure

Nickel connects energy storage, aerospace, defense, industrial machinery, construction, transportation, and chemical processing.

Industry ExposureSystems

Supply Risk

Nickel risk comes from geography, processing class, battery-grade conversion, environmental constraints, and reliance on major processing hubs.

Supply RiskProcessing

Engine Utility

Nickel functions as a bridge element between industrial infrastructure and future battery demand.

Engine InputDependency

Future Token Role

Nickel tokens can represent battery-grade supply, stainless steel demand, alloy capacity, and industrial production exposure.

Supply ClaimEconomy Layer

Comparative Relevance

Nickel has broader industrial use than Lithium and Cobalt, but lower substitution difficulty than Gallium or Helium in many applications.

ComparativeGenesis 12

Modeled Intelligence Scorecard

Overall Score

83/100

High

Reviewed

Supply Risk

78/100

High

Monitored

Strategic Value

84/100

High

Future Relevance

90/100

Very High

Substitution Risk

74/100

Medium High

Application-specific

Industry Exposure

High

Specialized systems

Policy Sensitivity

Medium

Monitored

Confidence

Medium

Reviewed

Scores are modeled intelligence scores, not official government scores.•Source-backed methodology.•Reviewed Q2 2026.

Pro

Reviewed Evidence Context

Reviewed Pro evidence summaries behind this element profile.

Nickel (Ni)

Claim support summaries

See how reviewed public-safe context supports element intelligence.

Confidence and review status

Understand confidence levels and latest review signals.

Source discipline context

Broad source categories that inform the evidence.

Evidence summaries support interpretation of modeled intelligence. They do not expose scoring formulas, source-to-score mapping, reviewer notes, or internal source architecture.

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Evidence summaries support interpretation, not official ratings.

Fact Box

Chemistry

Atomic Number28
Atomic Mass58.6934 u
Group10
Period4
Blockd-block
State at 20°CSolid
Melting Point1455 °C
Boiling Point2913 °C
Density8.91 g/cm³
Electron Configuration[Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²
CAS Number7440-02-0
Key Isotopes⁵⁸Ni, ⁶⁰Ni, ⁶²Ni

Fact Box

Strategic

Modeled StatusHigh
Genesis 12 StatusActive
Overall Score85 / 100
Supply Risk78 / 100
Substitution Risk76 / 100
Strategic Value84 / 100
Future Relevance90 / 100
Primary IndustriesBatteries, Stainless Steel, Aerospace, Energy
ReviewedQ2 2026
ConfidenceMedium

Why Nickel Matters

Nickel matters because it is used at massive industrial scale while also becoming more important to battery supply chains, superalloys, turbines, defense hardware, industrial machinery, and infrastructure.

Batteries

Nickel-rich cathodes for high energy density

Stainless Steel

Corrosion-resistant industrial materials

Superalloys

Aerospace and turbine systems

Industrial Equipment

Plating and harsh-environment alloys

Defense & Energy

Turbines, batteries, and high-reliability systems

Uses & Strategic Relevance

Stainless steel

Key alloying element for corrosion-resistant stainless steels.

High-nickel cathodes

Raises energy density in nickel-rich battery cathodes.

Aerospace superalloys

Enables high-temperature strength in aerospace superalloys.

Electroplating

Protective and decorative plating for industrial components.

Supply-Chain Risk

Production ConcentrationMedium High
Processing ConcentrationHigh for battery-grade routes
Import ExposureMedium High
By-product DependenceMedium, linked with cobalt and other metals
Recycling MaturityStrong in stainless, growing in batteries
Substitution DifficultyMedium High
Policy SensitivityMedium

Risk Summary

Diversified extraction with concentrated class-1 processing.

Supply-Chain Flow

source

Laterite & sulfide ore

Indonesia

source

Laterite & sulfide ore

Indonesia

source

Laterite & sulfide ore

Indonesia

source

Laterite & sulfide ore

Indonesia

processing

Smelting & HPAL

Indonesia

Bulk nickel and battery-grade nickel can carry very different strategic exposure.

Company Relationships

Strategic Company Relationships

Public-safe company relationships connected to Nickel across materials, components, devices, and downstream applications.

Company relationships are modeled intelligence relationships based on public source categories and reviewed context. They are not supplier certifications, official ratings, or confirmation of direct procurement relationships.

GLEN

Glencore

Miner•Mining

Public limited

Publicly described Nickel mining participant; modeled relationship signal connecting Glencore to Nickel through miner context in the materials graph.

NiNickelSwitzerlandMining & Processing

Confidence

Medium

Source

Public company filings

Last reviewed June 2026

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Source-linked evidence is available by briefing for eligible companies.

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Substitution Difficulty

Use CasePossible Substitute(s)TradeoffDifficulty
Battery cathodesLFP, sodium-ion, lower-nickel chemistriesLower energy density and different performance profileMedium High
Stainless steelAlternative steel grades, coatings, aluminumCorrosion and strength tradeoffsMedium
SuperalloysCobalt or iron-based alloysTemperature and qualification tradeoffsHigh
PlatingZinc, chromium, coatingsCorrosion, wear, environmental issuesMedium
Industrial systemsAlternative alloysDesign and lifecycle tradeoffsMedium

Connected Elements

Elements often analyzed alongside Nickel.

LiLithiumPaired in high-nickel lithium-ion cathodes.CoCobaltCo-occur in battery cathodes and in ore deposits.MnManganeseUsed together in steel and battery alloys.CuCopperFrequently mined and refined together from sulfide ores.AlAluminumLightweight systemsCrChromiumStainless steelFeIronNickel alloys with iron in stainless and specialty steels.WTungstenHard materials

How to Read This Profile

Periodic Engine modeled intelligence scores combine public source data, industry insights, supply-chain analysis, and technology relevance to assess strategic importance and risk.

Source Categories

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

IEA

International Energy Agency

EU Commission

EU Commission

PubChem

Chemical database

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Industry

Industry reports & associations

View Methodology
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