Lu2O3

Lutetium(III) oxide, Lu2O3, is a white solid and a stable oxide of the rare-earth lutetium. It is widely referred to as lutetium oxide and serves as a host material in phosphors and scintillators when doped with rare-earth ions.

Lu2O3 crystallizes in a cubic bixbyite structure at ambient conditions. It is a dense, high-melting-point material with good chemical and thermal stability; it is insoluble in water and relatively inert in air.

Synthesis is typically achieved by high-temperature solid-state reactions of lutetium compounds, such as Lu2O3 or lutetium salts, followed by calcination. It can also be formed by oxidation of lutetium metal.

Applications include use as a host lattice for dopants such as Eu3+, Ce3+, Nd3+, and Yb3+. Eu-doped Lu2O3 is a red phosphor; Ce-doped Lu2O3 is used in fast scintillators for radiation detection; Nd- and Yb-doped variants are explored as laser materials and for upconversion schemes. The material’s high density and optical properties make it valuable in niche photonic and detector technologies.

Safety considerations are similar to other rare-earth oxides; Lu2O3 poses low acute toxicity, with standard precautions to limit dust inhalation.