An introduction to gadolinium

Gadolinium demand and end-uses

Gadolinium is a highly versatile rare earth element with applications spanning healthcare, clean energy, and advanced technology sectors. Its unique magnetic and neutron-absorbing properties make it indispensable in several industries.

One of the most critical uses of gadolinium is in medical imaging and diagnostics. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are widely used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to enhance the visibility of soft tissues, blood vessels, and abnormalities. These contrast agents improve diagnostic accuracy in detecting neurological disorders, tumours, and vascular diseases.

In the nuclear industry, gadolinium plays a crucial role as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactor control rods. Due to its high neutron capture cross-section, gadolinium helps regulate fission reactions and enhances reactor safety, particularly in pressurised water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs).

Gadolinium is also a key component in high-performance magnets, often used in combination with neodymium to improve thermal stability and resistance to demagnetisation in NdFeB magnets. This makes gadolinium-enhanced magnets valuable in electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, and industrial applications where high-temperature performance is required.

In data storage and electronics, gadolinium is used in magneto-optical recording, particularly in rewritable optical discs such as magneto-optical (MO) disks. Its ability to influence magnetic properties at low temperatures also makes it valuable in superconducting materials and emerging spintronic devices.

Gadolinium-based phosphors are used in X-ray and scintillation detectors, where they help convert X-rays into visible light, improving imaging resolution and efficiency in medical radiography and security screening systems.

Additionally, gadolinium alloys are employed in cryogenic applications, such as in magnetocaloric refrigeration technology, which offers energy-efficient cooling solutions by leveraging gadolinium’s temperature-dependent magnetic properties.

While gadolinium’s demand is more specialised compared to neodymium or dysprosium, its essential role in medical imaging, nuclear energy, and high-performance magnets ensures its ongoing importance. As advancements in clean energy, healthcare, and data storage continue, gadolinium is expected to remain a critical rare earth element with stable demand across multiple high-tech industries.

Gadolinium supply

Gadolinium, is primarily obtained as a byproduct of rare earth element (REE) extraction, similar to europium. It is predominantly sourced from monazite and bastnäsite, two of the most significant rare earth-bearing minerals. These minerals are primarily mined in China, the United States, Australia, Russia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Canada, making gadolinium supply closely linked to the global rare earth mining industry.

Additional mineral sources containing gadolinium include xenotime, loparite, allanite, aeschynite, parisite, synchysite, and eudialyte. However, gadolinium's natural abundance within these minerals is lower compared to light rare earth elements (LREEs) like cerium or lanthanum, making its extraction reliant on the broader rare earth refining process.