What are they?

Rare earth elements (REE) are a group of chemically similar metals essential to modern technology, despite their misleading name. While not particularly rare, extracting them is hazardous and complex. And with their crucial role in green energy, defense, and advanced computing, it’s no wonder global superpowers are eager to secure these resources. Now, let’s explore some of these elements and their uses!

Yttrium

In the early years of television, Yttrium was used to generate red color on the screen. Today, it is used in white LED lights. It is added to glass to make it shock and heat resistant. Digital cameras, smartphone lenses, as well as some superconductors, are made with yttrium. Its radioactive isotope, yttrium-90, is used in the treatment of liver cancer.

Lanthanum

Lanthanum is mostly used in combination with other elements since the pure metal is very reactive. As an alloy with nickel, it is used in hydrogen powered vehicles to store hydrogen gas. Along with other rare earth elements, it is used in studio lighting and cinema projections. It is also used as a catalyst in petroleum refining.

Cerium

Its highly pure form is used in the manufacture of alloys with aluminum, iron, and magnesium. It also forms an important component of flat-screen televisions, floodlights, and bulbs. Cerium is used to make flints in lighters, where it sparks when struck. Cerium oxide is used in catalytic converters, especially in reducing carbon monoxide emissions.

Praseodymium

Praseodymium alloys are known for withstanding great stresses. That is why they are used in aircraft engines and permanent magnets. Praseodymium is also used to produce a yellow tint in glasses that filter out yellow light and infrared radiation. It is the major component in manufacturing glasses for goggles used by glassmakers and welders.

Neodymium

One of the most prolific uses of neodymium is in the manufacture of powerful permanent magnets. Its oxides are used to create pink and purple glass, color glazes, and filters used in glassmaking as well as astronomical telescopes. Lasers made with neodymium are used for welding, drilling, eye surgeries, cosmetic procedures, and skin cancer treatments.

Samarium

Samarium-cobalt magnets are very powerful, about 10,000 times more powerful than iron, and come only second to the ones made using neodymium. They are used in headphones and miniature speakers, contributing to high-quality sound output. Their ability to withstand extreme temperatures makes them essential in miniature motors and microwave-based technologies like radar, satellites, and mobile phones. Samarium is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.

Europium

Europium oxide is used to generate red light and is used in bulbs to create naturally warmer light by balancing the cold blue light. The euro banknotes have europium, which glows red under UV light, differentiating them from counterfeit notes that lack them. Like samarium, europium is excellent at absorbing neutrons and is used in nuclear reactors.

Gadolinium

Gadolinium has specialized uses across different industries. It is used to make iron and chromium alloys to improve their resistance to high temperatures and oxidation. In nuclear reactors, gadolinium is used as an emergency shutdown measure due to its neutron absorbing capabilities. It is also used in magnetic refrigeration, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of tumors, lasers, and microwave equipment.

Terbium

Terbium is used in hydrogen fuel cells to keep them stabilized. It also forms an important component of semiconductors, integrated circuits, and fiber optic cables. Its oxide is used in laser, TV screens, and flat-screen monitors to produce a green color.

Dysprosium

The most common use of Dysprosium is in magnets, where it prevents demagnetization due to high temperatures. It is used in home electronics, high performance motors, and wind power generation equipment. Due to its high melting point, dysprosium is used in the control rods of nuclear reactors.

Erbium

Erbium lasers are used in cosmetic procedures where they ablate the upper skin layer, revealing the smoother and younger layers. In dental procedures, erbium lasers are used for the removal of tooth decay and cavity preparation. Other applications include the coloring of glass, data transmission through fiber optics, and the creation of durable alloys.

Thulium

Thulium is used in magnetic refrigeration equipment, which makes them more energy efficient. Since it produces a blue color under UV light, it is used in banknotes as a measure against counterfeiting. Its isotope, thulium-169, emits X-rays and is used in portable X-ray machines.