Abstract: A new neutron rich nuclide 186 Hf is produced and identified by bombardment of natural tungsten samples with 60 MeV/u 18 O beams using rapid radiochemical separation method and γ spectroscopic measurement technique for the first time. The half life of the new neutron rich isotope 186 Hf is determined to be(2.6±1.2)min by a radioactive series decay analytical program to fit the growth and decay curve. The chemical yield of element hafnium is more than 60% and the decontamination factor of tantalum is higher than 10 2 in the chemical separation.