Samarium Oxide (Sm2O3) Powder

Samarium oxide (Sm₂O₃) is one of the important rare earth oxides. The crystal structure of the compound is in cubic crystal form. The appearance of the samarium oxide powder is generally off white. It is a high-k dielectric material, with a density of 8.43 g/cm3, and melting and boiling points of 2335 °C and 4118 °C respectively. Sm₂O₃ outstanding properties such as high dielectric constant (7 to 15), high breakdown electric field (5 MV/cm to 7 MV/cm), large bandgap (4.33 eV), low leakage current, large conduction band offset with Si, good thermal stability, low-frequency dispersion, and low trapping rates. Sm₂O₃ is also predicted to be thermodynamically stable on Si substrate. The important application areas of Sm₂O₃ powder are;

• optical and infrared-absorbing glasses,
• neutron absorber in control rods for nuclear power reactors,
• the catalyst for dehydration of acyclic primary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.