Praseodymium

Praseodymium (Pr) — 10-Year Trends

As of 2026-09-11 · the last 10 years

Praseodymium’s research intensity stands at about 50% of its all-time peak, a level that has climbed steadily over the last decade despite the element’s historical high occurring in 1965.

Research intensity ran from about 43% of the element's own all-time peak in 2016 to about 50% in 2026 — a steady climb, and the all-time peak (1965) lies before this window. Over the same span its share of research attention across all elements rose. Among the 118 elements, praseodymium has a mid-sized research literature.

The number of papers involving the element rose from about 600 in 2016 to about 1,593 in 2025 (2.65x). That is faster than the literature as a whole grew over the same years, so the element gained ground in the wider body of research.

The bulk of praseodymium research is distributed across a wide range of specialized applications, with the largest named community focusing on separation technologies. Praseodymium Separation from Neodymium in Molten Salts accounts for about 16% of the element's recent research, a share that has remained steady compared to the previous period. In this community, praseodymium is a minor presence in a much larger community -- about 1% of its papers involve praseodymium, yet the work is distinct in its focus on separating praseodymium from neodymium using molten salts and aqueous solutions. A key document in this area is the "2023 Critical Materials Strategy," cited over 480 times, which underscores the strategic importance of these separation methods.

A second significant area of study is Praseodymium-Doped Ceria for Oxygen Exchange Electrodes, representing about 7% of recent research. Here, praseodymium is a minor presence in a much larger community -- about 1% of its papers involve praseodymium, specifically analyzing surface oxygen exchange kinetics and electrocatalytic activity for solid oxide fuel cell electrodes. Recent work in this field includes "Hybridizing Electrode Interface Structures in Protonic Ceramic Cells for Durable, Reversible Hydrogen and Power Generation," cited about 16 times, which explores durable power generation solutions.

The third major community is Praseodymium Doping in Rare Earth Phosphors, holding about 6% of the element's recent research. In this context, praseodymium is a minor presence in a much larger community -- about 1% of its papers involve praseodymium, with papers investigating the synthesis and structural effects of incorporating praseodymium ions into host lattices for light-emitting materials. Notable work includes "Multi-responsive deep-ultraviolet emission in praseodymium-doped phosphors for microbial sterilization," cited about 77 times, which highlights applications in sterilization.

Across these three named communities, the composition of praseodymium research has remained remarkably stable, with all three showing steady shares over the last two five-year periods. The remainder of the element's research, which constitutes about 71% of its recent output, is spread across various other specialized fields, maintaining a consistent share as well. This stability suggests that praseodymium’s role in these specific technological niches is well-established and not subject to rapid shifts in focus.

For a deeper look at the current state of praseodymium research, including the most recent developments and executive summaries, consult the element's current-standing reports.