Holmium, a silvery-white rare earth element with remarkable magnetic properties, stands as one of the lesser-known yet scientifically significant members of the lanthanide series. Discovered in the late 19th century during the golden age of element discovery, holmium has evolved from a scientific curiosity to an essential component in modern technology. This element, named after Stockholm (Holmia in Latin), possesses the highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element and exhibits unique optical properties that have made it invaluable in applications ranging from nuclear reactors to medical lasers. Today, holmium plays crucial roles in magnetic field generation, spectroscopic calibration, quantum computing research, and advanced medical procedures, demonstrating how even the rarest elements can profoundly impact technological progress.

For more information, check out the light rare earth elements (LREEs) as a group, the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) as a group, and all rare earth elements (REEs). Be sure to check out all other critical raw materials (CRMs), as well. The complete history of all 17 rare earth elements can be found here.

Read about the use of rare earths in quantum computing here.

A History Of Holmium

The discovery and development of holmium represents a fascinating journey through scientific history, marked by international collaboration, technological advancement, and innovative applications. From its initial spectroscopic identification in 1878 to its groundbreaking use in single-atom data storage in 2017, holmium has continuously revealed new possibilities in science and technology, establishing itself as an indispensable element in fields ranging from medicine to quantum computing.

Chronology

• 1878 – Swiss chemists Marc Delafontaine and Jacques-Louis Soret first observed previously unrecorded spectroscopic absorption bands of holmium at Geneva, announcing the discovery of “Element X”; independently, Per Teodor Cleve discovered holmium at Uppsala, Sweden, while investigating yttrium oxide contaminated with other rare earth elements [1, 2]
• 1879 – Per Teodor Cleve successfully separated holmium oxide (holmia) from erbium oxide using methods developed by Carl Gustaf Mosander, obtaining a brown substance he named holmia after Stockholm’s Latin name, publishing his findings in Comptes Rendus [3]
• 1886 – Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran isolated holmium oxide using fractional precipitation methods in France, further purifying the element [4]
• 1911 – Otto Holmberg successfully isolated pure metallic holmium for the first time; the pure holmium oxide was also isolated in this year, marking significant advancement in rare earth element purification [1, 5]
• 1914 – English physicist Henry Moseley assigned holmium the atomic number 66 in his classic paper on atomic numbers, though this was later corrected to 67 when it was found his holmium sample was contaminated with dysprosium [1]
• 1932 – Mary Elvira Weeks published a comprehensive history of holmium’s discovery in the Journal of Chemical Education, documenting the element’s journey from discovery to isolation [6]
• 1936 – German chemists Wilhelm Klemm and Heinrich Bommer produced elemental holmium through reduction methods, achieving higher purity samples [7]
• 1939 – Heinrich Bommer achieved the isolation of metallic holmium through reduction of its anhydrous chloride or fluoride with metallic calcium, establishing the standard production method [1]
• 1956 – Bertaut and Forrat discovered yttrium iron garnet (YIG), which would later be doped with holmium for various magnetic applications, opening new technological possibilities for holmium compounds [8]
• 1958 – B.L. Rhodes, S. Legvold, and F.H. Spedding published fundamental research on the magnetic properties of holmium and thulium metals in Physical Review, revealing holmium’s exceptional magnetic moment of 10.6 μB [9]
• 1961 – The National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) began distributing holmium oxide glass filters as wavelength calibration standards for spectrophotometers, establishing holmium as an optical reference standard [10]
• 1962 – D.L. Strandburg, S. Legvold, and F.H. Spedding published detailed studies on electrical and magnetic properties of holmium single crystals, discovering its ferromagnetic behavior below 19 K [9]
• 1972 – W. Tolksdorf and colleagues published research on controlled lattice constant mismatch in holmium-doped yttrium iron garnet films, advancing microwave device applications [11]
• 1976 – J.E. Davies and colleagues studied lead contamination in holmium iron garnet films grown by liquid phase epitaxy, improving material quality for technological applications [11]
• 1978 – NIST certified holmium oxide glass samples for wavelength calibration, establishing them as industry standards that would remain stable for over four decades without requiring recertification [10]
• 1979 – H.A. Algra and J.M. Robertson published ferromagnetic resonance studies on holmium-doped YIG films, advancing understanding of magnetic properties in thin films [11]
• 1981 – H.L. Glass and colleagues patented temperature-stabilized low-loss holmium-containing ferrite films for microwave applications [11]
• 1985 – S.A. Nikitin and colleagues published research on the magnetocaloric effect in holmium and other heavy rare-earth metals, revealing potential for magnetic refrigeration applications [9]
• 1990 – J. Jensen and A.R. Mackintosh discovered the helifan magnetic structure in holmium, a new type of magnetic ordering with spiral and fan-like arrangements [9]
• 1994 – Holmium laser energy was first used in prostate surgery in conjunction with Nd:YAG lasers in the combination endoscopic laser ablation procedure (CELAP), beginning the era of holmium medical lasers [12]
• 1995 – The first report of holmium laser lithotripsy in human medicine was published, revolutionizing kidney stone treatment with the Ho:YAG laser operating at 2100 nm wavelength [13]
• 1990s – Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) was developed as a minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, with faster recovery times than traditional surgery [14]
• 1996 – Thulium oxide cost US$20 per gram, while similar rare earth oxides including holmium compounds were priced comparably, reflecting processing complexity [7]
• 2001 – Approximately 50 tonnes per year of holmium oxide were produced globally for various applications including magnets, lasers, and nuclear reactor control rods [7]
• 2005 – The development of 40W holmium laser systems expanded possible urological applications; 99%-pure holmium metal powder was priced at US$70 per gram [7, 13]
• 2006 – Holmium-loaded poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres were studied for in vitro degradation, advancing understanding of their behavior for medical applications [22]
• 2007 – NIST announced that holmium oxide glass wavelength standards no longer required recertification due to their exceptional long-term stability over 40+ years of testing [10]
• 2008 – First dose-escalation safety studies began for holmium-166 microspheres in radioembolization therapy for liver malignancies [23]
• 2009 – The phase I HEPAR (Holmium Embolization Particles for Arterial Radiotherapy) trial began enrolling patients to test holmium-166 radioembolization for liver metastases [24]
• 2010 – Holmium laser lithotripsy optimization studies determined ideal pulse energy and frequency settings for different stone types, improving clinical outcomes [25]
• 2011 – The price of holmium oxide reached a historic peak of 1,880 renminbi per kilogram due to rare earth supply constraints and increased demand [26]
• 2012 – The HEPAR trial results published in The Lancet Oncology established 60 Gy as the maximum tolerated radiation dose for holmium-166 radioembolization in liver metastases [27]
• 2013 – Advanced pulse modulation techniques for holmium lasers were developed, including Virtual Basket technology to limit stone movement during lithotripsy [28]
• 2014 – Meta-analysis studies confirmed holmium laser lithotripsy’s superior efficacy compared to pneumatic lithotripsy for bladder stones, with higher stone-free rates [29]
• 2015 – Brett F. Thornton and Shawn C. Burdette published a comprehensive review of holmium’s discovery and applications in Nature Chemistry, highlighting its “homely” but essential nature [15]
• 2016 – High-power 120W holmium laser systems with variable pulse duration were introduced, enabling more efficient stone dusting techniques in ureteroscopy [30]
• 2017 – IBM researchers announced the achievement of storing one bit of data on a single holmium atom set on a bed of magnesium oxide, creating the world’s smallest magnet for data storage; demonstrated that two holmium atoms could store data independently when separated by just one nanometer, potentially enabling storage 1,000 times denser than current technology; Fabian D. Natterer and colleagues published their groundbreaking research in the journal Nature [16, 17, 18]
• 2018 – Researchers explored holmium-doped YIG crystals for enhanced magneto-optical properties, achieving improved Faraday rotation for optical isolator applications [19]
• 2019 – The HEPAR PLuS trial began investigating combination therapy of holmium-166 radioembolization with lutetium-177-DOTATATE for neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases; holmium market valued at US$5.346 million globally [31, 32]
• 2020 – The price of holmium oxide decreased to 402.1 renminbi per kilogram, reflecting market stabilization; HEPAR PLuS trial results showed 44% objective response rate for combination radioembolization therapy [26, 33]
• 2021 – Researchers demonstrated high-efficiency magnetic refrigeration using holmium with small magnetic field changes (Δμ0H ≤ 0.4 T) for hydrogen liquefaction applications; Boston Scientific acquired Lumenis Ltd.’s global surgical business for US$1.07 billion, including advanced holmium laser technology for medical applications [9, 20]
• 2022 – Comprehensive safety review of holmium-166 microsphere scout dose imaging confirmed its safety profile for personalized radioembolization treatment planning [31]
• 2023 – Holmium-doped yttrium iron garnet crystals grown by molten salt method achieved large Faraday rotation angles (186 deg/cm at 1310 nm) after optimization, advancing optical communication devices [19]
• 2024 – Global holmium rare earth elements market reached US$0.2 million in value with projected 4% CAGR growth through 2030, driven by demand in medical lasers and magnetic applications [34]
• 2025 – Current holmium applications include use in solid-state lasers for medical procedures, nuclear reactor control rods, magnetic flux concentrators for MRI machines, calibration standards for optical spectrophotometers, and research into quantum computing applications [21]

Final Thoughts

Holmium’s journey from an obscure spectroscopic anomaly to a critical component in cutting-edge technology exemplifies the unpredictable path of scientific discovery. While initially overshadowed by more abundant elements, holmium has proven that rarity does not diminish importance. Its exceptional magnetic properties, which remained theoretical curiosities for decades, now enable groundbreaking applications in quantum computing and data storage that push the boundaries of what is physically possible. As we advance toward an era of atomic-scale engineering and quantum technologies, holmium stands poised to play an even more significant role in shaping our technological future, reminding us that the periodic table still holds untapped potential waiting to be discovered.

Thanks for reading!

References

[1] Holmium – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmium

[2] Holmium | Definition, Properties, & Facts | Britannica – https://www.britannica.com/science/holmium

[3] Holmium – Chemicool – https://www.chemicool.com/elements/holmium.html

[4] Holmium – Discovery Wiki – https://discoverygc.com/wiki/Holmium

[5] Holmium oxide was isolated in 1886 by French chemist Paul Lecoq de Boisbaudran – https://www.chemicool.com/elements/holmium.html

[6] Mary Elvira Weeks, The Discovery of the Elements XVI., Journal of Chemical Education – https://www.chemicool.com/elements/holmium.html

[7] Thulium – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thulium

[8] Yttrium Iron Garnet: Properties and Applications Review – https://www.scientific.net/SSP.202.65

[9] High-efficiency magnetic refrigeration using holmium | Nature Communications – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21234-z

[10] Holmium Oxide Glass Wavelength Standards – PMC – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4655923/

[11] The technology of YIG film growth | Circuits, Systems, and Signal Processing – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01600074

[12] Holmium – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/holmium

[13] Holmium Laser – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/holmium-laser

[14] Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) – Cleveland Clinic – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17917-holmium-laser-enucleation-of-the-prostate-holep

[15] Homely holmium | Nature Chemistry – https://www.nature.com/articles/nchem.2264

[16] IBM Researchers Store Data on World’s Smallest Magnet — a Single Atom – https://uk.newsroom.ibm.com/2017-03-08-IBM-Researchers-Store-Data-on-Worlds-Smallest-Magnet-a-Single-Atom

[17] Researchers Make Single-Atom Memory from Holmium | Sci.News – https://www.sci.news/physics/holmium-single-atom-memory-04685.html

[18] Single atom memory: The world’s smallest storage medium | ScienceDaily – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309120521.htm

[19] Growth and characterization of holmium-doped yttrium iron garnet single crystal – ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092583882302830X

[20] Disposable Holmium Laser Fiber Market | Precision Tools for Minimally Invasive Urology – https://www.openpr.com/news/4082529/disposable-holmium-laser-fiber-market-precision-tools

[21] Holmium – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table – https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/67/holmium

[22] Holmium-loaded poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres: in vitro degradation study – PubMed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16827590/

[23] The various therapeutic applications of the medical isotope holmium-166: a narrative review – https://ejnmmipharmchem.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41181-019-0066-3

[24] Holmium-166 radioembolization for the treatment of patients with liver metastases: design of the phase I HEPAR trial – https://jeccr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-9966-29-70

[25] A Users Guide to Holmium Laser Lithotripsy Settings in the Modern Era – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2019.00048/full

[26] Holmium oxide price 2011-2030 | Statista – https://www.statista.com/statistics/1116371/global-reo-holmium-oxide-price-forecast/

[27] Holmium-166 radioembolisation in patients with unresectable, chemorefractory liver metastases (HEPAR trial): a phase 1, dose-escalation study – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1470204512703340

[28] The laser of the future: reality and expectations about the new thulium fiber laser—a systematic review – https://tau.amegroups.org/article/view/28326/html

[29] A meta-analysis and systematic review of holmium laser treatment of bladder stones – https://tau.amegroups.org/article/view/76221/html

[30] Frontiers | A Users Guide to Holmium Laser Lithotripsy Settings in the Modern Era – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2019.00048/full

[31] Holmium-166 Radioembolization: Current Status and Future Prospective – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00270-022-03187-y

[32] Holmium Market – Forecasts from 2019 to 2024 – https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4858330/holmium-market-forecasts-from-2019-to-2024

[33] Additional holmium-166 radioembolisation after lutetium-177-dotatate in patients with neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases – https://interventionalnews.com/ho-radioembolization-liver/

[34] Holmium – Rare earth elements market outlook – https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/statistics/rare-earth-elements-market-outlook/product/holmium/global