[2][3] Gadolinium(III) nitride can be prepared by the direct reaction of gadolinium metal and nitrogen gas at 1600 °C and at a pressure of 1300 atm.

[4] Gadolinium(III) nitride forms a black powder.

[5][6] It is isomorphous with sodium chloride[7] with the space group of Fm3m.

[8] Gadolinium(III) nitride hydrolyzes in humid air to form gadolinium(III) hydroxide and ammonia.

[11] It can also be used as a magnetic material, a catalyst in chemical reactions and a component in neutron converters for radiation detectors.