Overview
ABSTRACT
Rare earths have very similar chemical properties, but their physical properties are on the contrary very specific, because of their unique electronic configuration related to the progressive filling of 4f orbitals. As a consequence, their magnetic properties are valued in magnets, their optical properties are highlighted in the field of lighting and optical fibers, their oxidation-reduction properties are key in catalysis ...
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Valérie BUISSETTE: Doctor of Science - Research Fellow & Head of the Advanced Inorganic Materials Research Department - Solvay – Special Chem Business, Aubervilliers, France
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Thierry LE MERCIER: Doctor of Science - Research Fellow & Head of the Functional Inorganic Materials Department - Solvay – Corporate Research & Innovation, Aubervilliers, France
INTRODUCTION
Rare earths (or lanthanides) are chemical elements with unique properties that make them indispensable in many traditional and emerging technologies, such as energy, lighting, sustainable mobility, electronics, telecommunications, aeronautics and medical applications.
Although rare earths are relatively abundant in the earth's crust, they are often poorly concentrated in ores, and their production is today mainly concentrated in China. Concerns have therefore arisen as to their availability in the medium term, and some of them have now been included on the list of critical metals by the world's major powers.
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KEYWORDS
catalysis | luminescence | lanthanides | permanent magnets | polishing
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