The　nanoparticles　and　nanocrystalline　bulk　of　pure　gadolinium　(Gd)　were　prepared　by　a　novel　route.　The　nanostructures　of　the　single　particle　and　the　bulk　of　Gd　were　investigated,　and　the　crystal　structure　was　characterized.　The　fundamental　properties,　namely　the　physical,　thermal.　and　mechanical　characteristics,　were　studied　for　the　prepared　Gd　bulk　with　an　ultrafine　nanograin　structure.　As　compared　with　the　conventional　polycrystalline　metal,　the　ultrafine　nanocrystalline　Gd　has　greatly　enhanced　functional　and　structural　properties.　The　physical　background　for　the　changes　of　the　fundamental　properties　with　the　reduction　of　the　grain　size　to　the　nanoscale　was　analyzed.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.