13 January 2026

Cerium oxide: the abundant rare earth used in catalysts, energy and precision polishing

Key insights from this briefing

Why can cerium be strategically useful even though it is the most abundant rare earth?

Strategic importance depends on function and processing, not simply crustal abundance. Cerium oxide is used in catalysts, solid oxide fuel cells, supercapacitors, photovoltaic applications and high-precision polishing, giving it important roles across energy, manufacturing and electronics.

What properties make cerium oxide useful in catalysts and precision manufacturing?

Cerium oxide can readily switch oxidation states and has useful ionic-conductivity characteristics, which support catalytic and sensing applications. Its mechanical and chemical properties also make it a highly effective polishing material for precision optics and semiconductor wafers.

Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight

Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, illustrating why geological abundance and strategic usefulness are different concepts. Cerium oxide can switch readily between oxidation states and has useful ionic conductivity, which supports applications in catalysts, gas separation, chemical sensing and emerging energy technologies. It is also a standard precision-polishing material for optics and semiconductor wafers. The breadth of these uses means cerium can be strategically relevant even though it is much more abundant than many other rare-earth elements.

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