Ytterbium Oxide
Diytterbium trioxide, Ytterbia, ytterbium oxide 99.9%, Ytterbium sesquioxide
- CAS
- 1314-37-0
- EC
- 215-234-0
- Sectors
- Electronics & Solar PV, Home Care & Industrial Cleaning
Ytterbium Oxide (Yb₂O₃; MW 394.08 g/mol) is a dense white powder belonging to the rare earth oxide series, with a melting point of 2346 °C and a bulk density of 8.102 g/cm³. It is insoluble in water but dissolves in hot dilute acids. SoleChem supplies this material in Technical and Electronic grades, with commercially available purity levels of Yb₂O₃/TREO ≥ 99.9 % and TREO ≥ 99 % on a rare earth oxide basis.
The principal industrial function of Yb₂O₃ is as a fiber laser dopant, where its well-defined 4f energy levels enable efficient near-infrared emission around 1070 nm. It also serves as a refractive-index modifier in specialty optical glass and as a sintering aid and stabilizer in advanced ceramic formulations requiring high-temperature dimensional stability.
Ytterbium Oxide
Applications
- Electronics & Solar PV: Used as a dopant precursor in ytterbium-doped fiber laser cores, providing high gain efficiency and low thermal load in high-power near-infrared laser systems.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Incorporated into specialty optical glass compositions as a heavy rare earth modifier to adjust refractive index and improve transmission in infrared optical components.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Applied in the fabrication of ceramic capacitor and substrate materials where high-temperature phase stability and controlled dielectric properties are required.
- Home Care & Industrial Cleaning: Utilized in the formulation of abrasive and polishing compounds for precision surface finishing of optical and ceramic components in industrial cleaning and maintenance processes.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Employed as a sintering additive in advanced structural ceramics and thermal barrier coatings, improving densification and resistance to high-temperature degradation.
Safety & Risks
GHS Warning. H315 (skin irritant), H319 (eye irritant), H335 (respiratory irritant). Avoid generating dust; ensure adequate local exhaust ventilation. Use N95 respirator, safety glasses, and chemical-resistant gloves during handling. Store in a cool, dry, sealed container.
Packaging
25 kg fiber drums or polyethylene-lined bags; 500–1,000 kg big bags for bulk oxide grades; 1–5 kg sealed containers for Electronic Grade high-purity lots. Store dry, away from acids.