Ytterbium Fluoride YbF3

Product Properties

Name: Ytterbium Fluoride
Formula: YbF3
CAS No.: 13860-80-0
Molecular Weight: 230.04
Density: 8.20 g/cm3
Melting point: 1,052° C 
Appearance: White powder

Specification of Ytterbium Fluoride

 

Grade

99.9999%

99.999%

99.99%

99.9%

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

    

Yb2O3 /TREO (% min.)

99.9999

99.999

99.99

99.9

TREO (% min.)

81

81

81

81

Rare Earth Impurities

ppm max.

ppm

ppm max.

% max.

Tb4O7/TREO
Dy2O3/TREO
Ho2O3/TREO
Er2O3/TREO
Tm2O3/TREO
Lu2O3/TREO
Y2O3/TREO

0.1
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.1

1
1
1
5
5
1
3

5
5
10
25
30
50
10

0.005
0.005
0.045
0.01
0.01
0.05
0.055

Non-Rare Earth Impurities

ppm max.

ppm max.

ppm max.

% max.

Fe2O3
SiO2
CaO
Cl-
NiO
ZnO
PbO

1
10
10
30
1
1
1

3
15
15
100
2
3
2

5
50
100
300
5
10
4

0.1
0.1
0.2
0.05
0.081
0.001
0.001

 

Application of Ytterbium Fluoride

  • Optics and Photonics: YbF₃ is widely used in the production of optical materials due to its low refractive index and high transparency over a broad range of wavelengths. It is utilized in the coating of lenses and other optical elements to minimize reflection and improve transmission, enhancing the performance of optical systems in cameras, telescopes, and lasers.

  • Laser Technology: Ytterbium fluoride is used as a dopant in solid-state laser materials, such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), to produce ytterbium-doped lasers. These lasers operate at efficient wavelengths and are used in various applications, including in materials processing, medical surgeries, and as sources for optical fiber amplifiers in telecommunications.

  • Glass Manufacturing: In glass production, YbF₃ is added to certain types of specialty glass to modify their physical and optical properties. It can improve the glass’s resistance to thermal shock and increase its mechanical strength. Additionally, ytterbium-doped glasses are explored for their use in laser technology and as active materials in photonic devices.

  • Nuclear Reactors: The compound’s potential in nuclear technology is being explored due to ytterbium’s ability to absorb thermal neutrons. YbF₃ could be used in the control rods of nuclear reactors or in other components where neutron absorption is critical to ensure the reactor’s safe operation.