What are the main industrial uses of lanthanum and how do they influence its demand outlook?

What are the main industrial uses of lanthanum and how do they influence its demand outlook?
Lanthanum's versatility spans multiple sectors, earning it the nickname 'super calcium' in agriculture for its role in light-conversion films that boost crop yields. Industrial applications include piezoelectric materials, thermoelectric devices, magnetoresistive components, phosphors for blue luminescence, hydrogen storage alloys, optical glass, laser materials, and specialty alloys. It serves as a catalyst in organic chemical production and finds use in agricultural films. In military applications, lanthanum-containing night vision equipment provided tactical advantages during the Gulf War. The metal itself is soft, silvery-white, and highly reactive, requiring storage under oil or sealed in paraffin. Demand growth now ties to emerging sectors like solid-state battery research and advanced optical coatings, though traditional applications in glass polishing and catalysis remain volume drivers. As China's rare earth industry shifts toward downstream functional materials, lanthanum's role as a cost-effective light rare earth ensures steady consumption, particularly in applications where its unique optical and catalytic properties remain irreplaceable.