Lanthanum Oxide plays a key role as a basic rare earth in many fields due to its excellent thermal stability, optical properties and catalytic activity.
Chemical properties
- Solubility: insoluble in water, soluble in inorganic acids to form lanthanum salts
- Thermal stability: high melting point, low coefficient (5.8×10⁻⁶/°C)
- Chemical activity: Exposure to air is easy to absorb moisture and CO₂ to form basic lanthanum carbonate
- Optical characteristics: refractive index 95, light transmission range 300nm-6μm
- Catalytic performance: the surface is rich in alkaline sites and has high catalytic activity
Applications:
Optical glass manufacturing
- Precision optical glass: to increase the refractive index, used in camera lenses, microscopes
- Radiation-proof glass: synergizes with barium oxide to absorb X-rays and γ-rays
Catalyst preparation
- FCC Petroleum Cracking Catalysts: Improves gasoline yield and octane rating
- Three-way catalyst for automobile exhaust: synergistically catalyzed with precious metals such as platinum and rhodium
Electronic ceramic materials
- MLCC dielectric material: nanoscale lanthanum oxide to improve dielectric properties
- Semiconductor dopant: used in BaTiO₃-based PTCR thermistors
Specialty glass
- Fiber optic preforms: reduce transmission loss and improve radiation resistance
- Laser glass: as a Nd³⁺ laser glass matrix material
Other applications
- Rare earth polishing powder: used for precision polishing of liquid crystal glass and optical components
- Thermal Barrier Coating: Protective coating for turbine blades of aero engines
