This salt is used as a water-soluble neutron poison in nuclear reactors.

The most common form of this substance is hexahydrate Gd(NO3)3•6H2O with molecular weight 451.36 g/mol and CAS Number: 19598-90-4.

[1] Gadolinium nitrate was used at the Savannah River Site heavy water nuclear reactors and had to be separated from the heavy water for storage or reuse.

[2][3] The Canadian CANDU reactor, a pressurized heavy water reactor, also uses gadolinium nitrate as a water-soluble neutron poison in heavy water.

Gadolinium nitrate is also used as a raw material in the production of other gadolinium compounds, for production of specialty glasses and ceramics and as a phosphor.