Scandium Nitrate Hydrate
nitric acid, scandium salt, Scandium Nitrate, SCANDIUM NITRATE, Scandium Nitrate Tetrahydrate
- CAS
- 13465-60-6
- EC
- 236-701-5
- Sectors
- Electronics & Solar PV, Oil, Gas & Energy, Pharma & Healthcare, Mining & Metals
Scandium Nitrate Hydrate (Sc(NO₃)₃·xH₂O; MW 230.97 anhydrous, 320.96 as pentahydrate) is a white crystalline rare earth nitrate salt that is very soluble in water and alcohol. It is commercially available at purities of 99.9 %, 99.99 %, and 99.999 % on a rare earth oxide basis (ScO/TREO), with TREO content of the hydrated salt typically exceeding 40 %.
The compound serves primarily as a soluble scandium precursor for sol-gel and co-precipitation routes, enabling controlled deposition of scandium into ceramic, catalytic, and electronic materials. Related commercial forms include the pentahydrate (CAS 107552-14-7), which carries equivalent labelling in some supplier catalogues.
Scandium Nitrate Hydrate
Applications
- Electronics & Solar PV: Used as a sol-gel or co-precipitation precursor for scandium-stabilised zirconia (ScSZ) electrolyte powders in solid oxide fuel cells and thin-film electronic ceramics.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Serves as a solution-phase precursor for optical coatings and electroceramic layers where precise stoichiometric control of scandium content is required.
- Oil, Gas & Energy: Applied as an impregnation solution for catalyst support materials, introducing scandium as a promoter or structural stabiliser in high-temperature catalytic systems.
- Pharma & Healthcare: Functions as a Lewis acid catalyst in organic synthesis, including Beckmann rearrangement and related reactions, where water-tolerant catalysis is required.
- Mining & Metals: Used as an intermediate for the preparation of scandium oxide and scandium hydroxide via controlled precipitation, supporting downstream metallurgical and refining workflows.
Safety & Risks
Classified Danger (GHS); oxidising solid — store away from flammables and combustibles. H272, H315, H319, H335, H350. Use P100 Respirator, Safety Glasses, and Chemical-Resistant Gloves. Transport as UN 1477, Class 5.1.
Packaging
1 g–1 kg laboratory bottles for high-purity grades; 5–25 kg fibre or HDPE drums for technical grade. Store sealed, dry, and cool.