Yttrium(III) chloride

Structure

Solid YCl3 adopts a cubic structure with close-packed chloride ions and yttrium ions filling one third of the octahedral holes and the resulting YCl6 octahedra sharing three edges with adjacent octahedra, giving it a layered structure. This structure is shared by a range of compounds, notably AlCl3.

Preparation and reactions

YCl3 is often prepared by the "ammonium chloride route," starting from either Y2O3 or hydrated chloride or oxychloride. or YCl3·6H2O. These methods produce (NH4)2[YCl5]:

:10 NH4Cl + Y2O3 → 2 (NH4)2[YCl5] + 6 NH3 + 3 H2O

:YCl3·6H2O + 2 NH4Cl → (NH4)2[YCl5] + 6 H2O

The pentachloride decomposes thermally according to the following equation: : (NH4)2[YCl5] → 2 NH4Cl + YCl3 The thermolysis reaction proceeds via the intermediacy of (NH4)[Y2Cl7].

Treating Y2O3 with aqueous HCl produces the hydrated chloride (YCl3·6H2O). When heated, this salt yields yttrium oxychloride rather than reverting to the anhydrous form.

Applications

Yttrium chloride is used to make nanocrystals doped with erbium (Er3+) and ytterbium (Yb3+), such as NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+.

In electronics and optics, YCl3 is added to semiconductors, LED materials, and lasers to enhance their performance and stability.

References

References

1. (2011). "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics". [[CRC Press]].
2. (1954). "The Crystal Structures of Yttrium Trichloride and Similar Compounds". The Journal of Physical Chemistry.
3. Wells A.F. (1984) ''Structural Inorganic Chemistry'' 5th edition Oxford Science Publications {{ISBN. 0-19-855370-6
4. (1954). "The Crystal Structures of Yttrium Trichloride and Similar Compounds". [[Journal of Physical Chemistry.
5. Edelmann, F. T.. (1997). "Synthetic Methods of Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry". Georg Thieme Verlag.
6. Taylor, M.D.. (1962). "Preparation of anhydrous lanthanide halides, especially iodides". Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry.
7. Pu, Yuan. (2018-12-01). "Process intensification for scalable synthesis of ytterbium and erbium co-doped sodium yttrium fluoride upconversion nanodispersions". Powder Technology.
8. "Applications and Importance of Yttrium Chloride (YCl₃)".