Erbium information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its High Purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Erbium has application in glass coloring, as an amplifier in fiber optics, and in lasers for medical and dental use. Erbium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. The ion has a very narrow absorption band coloring erbium salts pink. It is therefore used in eyeware and decorative glassware. It can neutralize discoloring impurities such as ferric ions and produce a neutral gray shade. It is used in a variety of glass products for this purpose. It is particularly useful as an amplifier for fiber optic data transfer. Erbium lases at the wavelength required to provide an efficient optical method of amplification, 1.55 microns. Lasers based on Er:YAG are ideally suited for surgical applications because of its ability to deliver energy without thermal build-up in tissue.
Erbium facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are
available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
Oxides are available in forms including powders and dense pellets for such uses as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble. Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor deposition and in some optical coatings. Erbium is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Erbium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The number of electrons in each of Erbium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Xe]4f12 6s2. In its elemental form erbium's CAS number is 7440-52-0. The erbium atom has a radius of 173.4.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Erbium is moderately toxic.
 All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Erbium compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Erbium was first discovered by Carl Mosander in 1843. Erbium is named after the Swedish town, Ytterby.
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 erbio |
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Erbium Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of Erbium and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Er-162 |
161.929 |
0.14 |
| Er-164 |
163.929 |
1.61 |
| Er-166 |
165.930 |
33.6 |
| Er-167 |
166.932 |
22.95 |
| Er-168 |
167.932 |
26.8 |
| Er-170 |
169.935 |
14.9 |
The following table shows the abundance of Erbium present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
no data |
2 ppb |
| by Atom |
no data |
0.01 ppb |
Erbium Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for Erbium metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Erbium compounds have no biological role.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for Erbium (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
589.31 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1151.08 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
2194.09 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to Erbium's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured in terms of electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 107 µOcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.24. The thermal conductivity of Erbium is 14.3 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties of Erbium. The melting point and boiling point for Erbium are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
17.2 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
280 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
318.32 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for Erbium
Removal of Sea Urchin Spines Using Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Ablation.
Gungor S, Tarikçi N, Gokdemir G.
Dermatol Surg. 2011 Dec 30. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02259.x. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
22211378
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Laser and intense pulsed light management of couperose and rosacea.
Dahan S.
Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Nov;138 Suppl 3:S219-22.
PMID:
22183103
[PubMed - in process]
In Solution Sensitization of Er(III) Luminescence by the 4-Tetrathiafulvalene-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic Acid Dimethyl Antenna Ligand.
Pointillart F, Bourdolle A, Cauchy T, Maury O, Le Gal Y, Golhen S, Cador O, Ouahab L.
Inorg Chem. 2011 Dec 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22208478
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Selected Trace Elements in the Sacramento River, California: Occurrence and Distribution.
Taylor HE, Antweiler RC, Roth DA, Alpers CN, Dileanis P.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Dec 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22193863
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Study about the effects of dental noises on the emotional experiences of children aged 6 to 10 years. A pilot study.
Birardi V, Pasini F.
Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2011 Dec;12(4):236-8.
PMID:
22185247
[PubMed - in process]
High-power polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm.
Zhang C, Shen DY, Wang Y, Qian LJ, Zhang J, Qin XP, Tang DY, Yang XF, Zhao T.
Opt Lett. 2011 Dec 15;36(24):4767-9. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.004767.
PMID:
22179877
[PubMed - in process]
Uranyl Sensitization of Samarium(III) Luminescence in a Two-Dimensional Coordination Polymer.
Knope KE, de Lill DT, Rowland CE, Cantos PM, de Bettencourt-Dias A, Cahill CL.
Inorg Chem. 2012 Jan 2;51(1):201-6. Epub 2011 Dec 15.
PMID:
22171660
[PubMed - in process]
Core/shell structured NaYF(4):Yb(3+)/Er(3+)/Gd(+3) nanorods with Au nanoparticles or shells for flexible amorphous silicon solar cells.
Li ZQ, Li XD, Liu QQ, Chen XH, Sun Z, Liu C, Ye XJ, Huang SM.
Nanotechnology. 2011 Dec 14;23(2):025402. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22166792
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Side effects and complications of fractional 1550-nm erbium fiber laser treatment among Asians.
Vaiyavatjamai P, Wattanakrai P.
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2011 Dec;10(4):313-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00585.x.
PMID:
22151942
[PubMed - in process]
Skin characteristics after fractional photothermolysis.
Oh BH, Hwang YJ, Lee YW, Choe YB, Ahn KJ.
Ann Dermatol. 2011 Nov;23(4):448-54. Epub 2011 Nov 3.
PMID:
22148011
[PubMed - in process]
Novel heterometal-organic complexes as first single source precursors for up-converting NaY(Ln)F(4) (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm) nanomaterials.
Mishra S, Ledoux G, Jeanneau E, Daniele S, Joubert MF.
Dalton Trans. 2011 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22134711
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Efficacy of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser in Reconditioning of Metallic Orthodontic Brackets.
Ahrari F, Basafa M, Fekrazad R, Mokarram M, Akbari M.
Photomed Laser Surg. 2012 Jan;30(1):41-6. Epub 2011 Dec 1.
PMID:
22133152
[PubMed - in process]
Electrically pumped silicon waveguide light sources.
Jayatilleka H, Nasrollahy-Shiraz A, Kenyon AJ.
Opt Express. 2011 Nov 21;19(24):24569-76. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.024569.
PMID:
22109485
[PubMed - in process]
Broadly tunable L-band multiwavelength BEFL utilizing nonlinear amplified loop mirror filter.
Al-Mansoori MH, Mahdi MA.
Opt Express. 2011 Nov 21;19(24):23981-8. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.023981.
PMID:
22109422
[PubMed - in process]
Characteristics of rational harmonic mode-locked short-cavity fiber ring laser using a bismuth-oxide-based erbium-doped fiber and a bismuth-oxide-based highly nonlinear fiber.
Fukuchi Y, Maeda J.
Opt Express. 2011 Nov 7;19(23):22502-9. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.022502.
PMID:
22109128
[PubMed - in process]
Generation of 120-fs laser pulses at 1-GHz repetition rate derived from continuous wave laser diode.
Ishizawa A, Nishikawa T, Mizutori A, Takara H, Nakano H, Sogawa T, Takada A, Koga M.
Opt Express. 2011 Nov 7;19(23):22402-9. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.022402.
PMID:
22109116
[PubMed - in process]
Multiwavelength Brillouin fiber laser with enhanced reverse-S-shaped feedback coupling assisted by out-of-cavity optical amplifier.
Rahman ZA, Hitam S, Al-Mansoori MH, Abas AF, Mahdi MA.
Opt Express. 2011 Oct 24;19(22):21238-45. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.021238.
PMID:
22108976
[PubMed - in process]
Effects of Dentin Surface Modifications Treated with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation on Fibroblast Cell Adhesion.
Bolortuya G, Ebihara A, Ichinose S, Watanabe S, Anjo T, Kokuzawa C, Saegusa H, Kawashima N, Suda H.
Photomed Laser Surg. 2011 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22107609
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Treatment of Melasma Using a Novel 1,927-nm Fractional Thulium Fiber Laser: A Pilot Study.
Polder KD, Bruce S.
Dermatol Surg. 2011 Oct 10. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02178.x. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22093448
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Letter: successful treatment of multiple miliary osteomas of the face using an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser.
Ortiz AE, Ross EV.
Dermatol Surg. 2011 Oct;37(10):1548-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02112.x. No abstract available.
PMID:
22092945
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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