Ytterbium oxide

Ytterbium oxide (CAS 1314-37-0), also known as ytterbia, with formula Yb₂O₃, is a heavy rare earth oxide used for its optical, thermal and surface-modifying properties.

Where is Ytterbium oxide used?

• Electronics and photonics: dopant precursor for fibre laser gain media; standard starting material for doped preforms emitting around 1 030–1 090 nm
• Optical glass: refractive index modifier and component of infrared-transmitting compositions
• Advanced ceramics: sintering aid and phase stabiliser in silicon nitride and zirconia systems, refining grain boundary chemistry
• Surface modification and wetting: alters surface energy in functional coatings and sol-gel systems
• In industrial cleaning formulations, rare earth oxide additives at controlled loadings improve substrate wettability and coating adhesion.

Good to know: No pharmacopoeial (USP, Ph. Eur.) or food-grade (E-number) designations apply; handled strictly as an industrial raw material. GHS Warning signal word; fine inorganic powder precautions (dust control, respiratory protection, closed handling) apply.

Commercial specifications

• Grades 99.9 % to 99.99 % on a rare earth oxide basis; trade convention Yb₂O₃/TREO ≥ 99.9 % with TREO ≥ 99 %
• Purity convention declares total rare earth oxide content alongside the ytterbium oxide fraction for incoming goods inspection
• Particle size distribution commonly 1–5 µm for powder grades, influencing dopant homogeneity in melt or sol-gel routes
• Packaging: 1–5 kg sealed polymer containers for high-purity lots; 25 kg drums or multi-layer bags; 500–1 000 kg big bags for large-scale runs