Alcoa Flags Gallium’s Potential in Study With Japanese Partners

Alcoa Corp. will investigate production of gallium — a metal used in semiconductors — as a byproduct from existing aluminum operations in Western Australia.

The largest US aluminum maker agreed a partnership with Japan’s Sojitz Corp. and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, to “expand global supply of gallium” from one of Alcoa’s alumina refineries, it said in a statement.