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Over a decade in the making: Illuminating new possibilities with lanthanide nanocrystals

Scientists at NUS and partner universities demonstrated highly efficient electroluminescence from lanthanide nanocrystals, marking an unprecedented level of control over exciton dynamics. The breakthrough enables devices to shift their color output across the visible to near-infrared spectrum with great efficiency.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2025

A unique method of rare-earth recycling can strengthen the raw material independence of Europe and America

A new method of separating rare earth elements from used neodymium magnets has been developed, allowing for environmentally friendly purification without organic solvents or toxic substances. The process is adaptable for other rare earths found in neodymium magnets and has the potential to influence various industrial sectors.

SourceInstitute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2025

Montana State geologist’s Antarctic research focuses on accumulations of rare earth elements

A study by Montana State University geologist Zachary Burton examines the movement and accumulation of rare earth elements in salt ponds in an arid, partially permafrost region of Antarctica. The research may help understand how these materials behave and accumulate in cold regions elsewhere, including Greenland and Ukraine.

SourceMontana State University·JournalCold Regions Science and Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2025

Texas A&M chemist wins NSF CAREER Award

Dr. Alison Altman, a Texas A&M chemist, has received the NSF CAREER Award to support her research on underexplored elements of the periodic table and their applications in technology. She aims to expand chemistry education at all levels, emphasizing its impact on everyday life.

A molecular trap for exotic metals promises improved diagnostics and faster drug development

Scientists at IOCB Prague have developed a new compound that securely binds metal elements, known as lanthanides, inside molecules of medical drugs. This breakthrough discovery, called 'ClickZip', improves diagnostics and accelerates drug development by making pharmaceuticals more stable.

Bacteria survive on radioactive elements

Research reveals that certain bacteria can replace essential lanthanides with actinides to sustain their metabolism. The findings suggest a possible role for these bacteria in decontaminating areas contaminated with radioactive elements or separating lanthanides and actinides for analytical purposes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2023

Cage with caps

A Japanese team has introduced a molecular cage with 'caps' that can confine certain rare-earth-metal ions, including lanthanum and europium, for isolation or recycling. The critical feature of the cage is its two 'caps' that cover the openings and bind to the ions through hydrogen bridges and electrostatic interactions.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2022

Linked lanthanides shine light on field of crystal engineering

Scientists have connected two soft crystals and observed energy transfer between them, leading to the potential development of sophisticated materials. The study used rare earth metals called lanthanides, which can luminesce, to create a molecular train that exhibited green luminescence at one end and yellow luminescence at the other.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2022

Unique molecular CODE – Paramagnetic encoding of molecules

Researchers have developed a novel method for molecular encoding using paramagnetic properties, enabling digital information storage and transmission. The system uses lanthanide elements to create unique signals that can be read remotely, with potential applications in chemistry, pharmacy, telemedicine, and more.

MOF-based sensor for water quality testing

Researchers at Shinshu University developed an affordable portable sensor using lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to detect fluoride levels in drinking water. The device is compatible with local populations and can be produced locally, aiming to improve access to safe water and sanitation for all

SourceShinshu University·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·DateApr 2, 2021

The easy way to get a square deal

Researchers at Osaka University have discovered a new method to easily add lanthanide cubanes into an existing metallo-supramolecular framework. The team found that by soaking a crystal in a cubane-containing solution, the molecules become intercalated via a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 17, 2020

Researchers discover new boron-lanthanide nanostructure

Researchers from Brown and Tsinghua Universities have created a bizarre cage-like structure by clustering boron atoms with lanthanide elements, challenging conventional chemistry rules. The discovery may shed light on bulk structure and chemical bonding behavior of boron lanthanides, an important class of materials.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 25, 2020

Cell membrane proteins imaged in 3D

Scientists developed a new technique to image proteins in 3D with nanoscale resolution using lanthanide-binding tags, enabling researchers to identify precise protein locations within individual cells. This breakthrough provides new insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 13, 2020

Six degrees of nuclear separation

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed an additive manufacturing method that enables the recycling of more nuclear waste, reducing storage time by almost one thousandfold. The breakthrough uses 3D-printed parts to separate highly radioactive actinide isotopes from rare earth metals.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 11, 2019

New sensor detects rare metals used in smartphones

A new protein-based sensor can detect tiny amounts of lanthanides, a crucial component of smartphone screens and electronics. The sensor uses a shape change to bind to the metal, allowing for rapid and inexpensive detection at the location of sampling.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 23, 2019

Bacterial protein could help find materials for your next smartphone

A newly discovered protein from the bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens has been found to be 100 million times better at binding to lanthanides than to other metals. The protein's unique structure may explain its remarkable selectivity, which could provide insights into detecting and targeting rare-earth metals for industrial purposes.

SourcePenn State·JournalBiochemistry·DateDec 19, 2018

Tiny glow sticks

Chinese researchers create microscale optical waveguides using lanthanide metal-organic frameworks, offering potential for low-loss light conduction and polarized emissions. The novel structures emit luminescence in different colors depending on the used lanthanide, making them suitable for color-tunable optical applications.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 8, 2017

Solving a subatomic shell game

Physicists at Michigan Technological University have calculated electron affinities for all 15 lanthanide elements, filling in long-standing gaps on the periodic table. The complex atomic structure of lanthanides made it challenging to calculate their electron affinities due to varying subshell configurations and complex variables.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalPhysical Review A·DateMar 23, 2009