Erbium oxide
Properties
Chemical formula: Er₂O₃
Name: Erbium(III) oxide / erbium oxide
CAS No.: 12061-16-4
Molar mass: 382.52 g/mol
Density: 8.64 g/cm³
Melting point: approx. 2400 °C
Color: characteristic pink
Form: fine powder
Solubility: insoluble in water, soluble in hot mineral acids
Erbium oxide (Er₂O₃), also known as erbium(III) oxide, is an inorganic compound belonging to the group of rare-earth oxides. It is typically supplied as a fine, characteristically pink powder and offers very high thermal and chemical stability.
Erbium oxide is insoluble in water but dissolves in hot mineral acids, forming the corresponding erbium(III) salts. With a melting point of approximately 2400 °C, the material remains stable under demanding high-temperature conditions.
One of the most important properties of erbium oxide is its characteristic optical absorption in the infrared and visible spectral ranges. Er³⁺ ions have specific electronic energy levels that enable optical amplification around a wavelength of 1550 nm. This makes erbium oxide particularly important for fiber-optic telecommunications. The compound also exhibits pronounced photoluminescent properties.
The element erbium is used both as erbium metal and in the form of specialized compounds. Erbium and its compounds are relevant for optical technologies, lasers, telecommunications, specialty glass, ceramics and nuclear technology. Erbium oxide is also used as a stable pink coloring agent in glass and ceramic materials.
Would you like to buy erbium oxide? Auremo offers erbium oxide, erbium metal and other rare metals. The erbium price, erbium metal price and erbium price per kg primarily refer to metallic erbium, while the price of erbium oxide depends on purity, particle size, order quantity and delivery conditions.
Advantages
• Optical amplification around the 1550 nm telecommunications window
• Extremely high thermal stability
• High chemical resistance
• Characteristic and stable pink coloration
• Strong photoluminescent properties
• Suitable for precise doping of optical materials
• High stability in glass and ceramic matrices
• Suitable for advanced optical and laser applications
Applications
• Fiber-optic telecommunications
• Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA)
• Laser and optical technology
• Er:YAG solid-state lasers
• Medical laser systems
• Materials processing
• Specialty glass and ceramics
• Pink pigments for glass and glazes
• UV- and infrared-absorbing optical materials
• Nuclear technology and reactivity control
• Production of erbium compounds
• Materials science and research
Auremo offers a wide range of erbium, erbium oxide and other rare metals at competitive prices. If you have any questions about Er₂O₃, erbium metal, available purity grades, particle sizes or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
