Yttrium

Yttrium — Material Page

View Products ↓

Yttrium (Y, atomic number 39) is a silvery-white HCP transition metal in Group 3 — lightweight (4.47 g/cm³), melting point 1,526 °C, 4d¹5s², exclusively trivalent — which behaves geochemically and chemically as a heavy rare-earth element (HREE) due to its ionic radius (Y³⁺: 0.900 Å in 6-coordination), closely matching Ho³⁺. ⁸⁹Y is the only natural isotope (monoisotopic, 100%, stable, I = 1/2, NMR-active). Despite a crustal abundance of ~33 ppm (comparable to cobalt), Y is classified as critical due to its concentrated extraction in China from REE ores.

Y₂O₃ (yttria) is one of the most industrially important rare-earth oxides: YSZ (yttria-stabilised zirconia, 3–8 mol% Y₂O₃) is the standard electrolyte for high-temperature SOFCs and the dominant thermal barrier coating (TBC) material in aircraft and gas turbine engine hot-section components — the ~250 µm plasma-sprayed YSZ TBC on Ni-superalloy blades enables turbine inlet temperatures of 1,400–1,600 °C, far above the Ni-alloy melting point, directly enabling the fuel efficiency and power-to-weight ratio of modern jet engines. Y₂O₃-stabilised ZrO₂ is also the electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells (Siemens, Bloom Energy) operating at 800–1,000 °C and the standard matrix for Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, Ho:YAG, and Yb:YAG laser crystals.

Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce) is the dominant white LED phosphor globally — Ce³⁺ ⁵d→⁴f broadband yellow emission (500–700 nm) converts blue GaN LED emission (450 nm) to white light through partial down-conversion, with internal quantum efficiency >95% — and is used in virtually every white LED for general illumination, automotive headlights, projectors, and backlighting. ⁹⁰Y (t½ = 64.1 hr, β⁻ 2.28 MeV max, produced from ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y generator or cyclotron) is the active radioisotope in Y-90 microsphere liver radioembolisation (SIR-Spheres, TheraSphere) for hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases, and in ⁹⁰Y-DOTATOC/DOTATATE PRRT for neuroendocrine tumours. YBCO (YBa₂Cu₃O₇) is the most commercially important high-temperature superconductor (T_c = 92 K), used in MRI magnets, superconducting power cables, and HTS fault current limiters.

General Properties

Property	Value	Notes
Atomic Number	39	4d¹5s²; +3 the only stable oxidation state. Y³⁺ ionic radius (0.900 Å, 6-coordinate) matches Ho³⁺ — Y substitutes for Ho and other HREEs in garnets, phosphors, and oxide ceramics without charge compensation. ⁸⁹Y (I = 1/2) is NMR-active: ⁸⁹Y NMR characterises Y³⁺ environments in YSZ electrolytes, YAG laser crystals, and YBa₂Cu₃O₇ superconductor grain boundaries.
Atomic Mass	88.906 u	Monoisotopic: ⁸⁹Y (100%, stable). Single ICP-MS signal at m/z 89. ⁹⁰Y (t½ = 64.1 hr, β⁻ 2.28 MeV max; produced from ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y generator equilibrium or by ⁸⁹Y(n,γ) activation) is the therapeutic radioisotope in liver radioembolisation microspheres and PRRT.
Density (20 °C)	4.47 g/cm³	Low density for a transition metal; comparable to Ti (4.51 g/cm³). Y is one of the lightest metals with a melting point above 1,500 °C, relevant to lightweight high-temperature alloy and ceramic applications.
Melting Point	1,526 °C (1,799 K)	High melting point. Y is produced by Ca-reduction of YF₃; processed under Ar or vacuum. More stable in air than the lanthanides.
Boiling Point	3,345 °C	High boiling point. Y evaporation sources are used in MBE and PLD deposition of YBCO thin films and Y-doped oxide dielectric layers.
Thermal Conductivity	17 W/m·K	Moderate conductivity. YSZ TBC thermal conductivity (~2.3 W/m·K) is much lower than the Y metal — the insulating ceramic layer, not the metal, provides the thermal barrier function.
Electrical Resistivity	59 nΩ·m (20 °C)	Moderate resistivity. Not relevant to most Y applications. Y becomes superconducting at ~1.3 K under ambient pressure.
Crystal Structure	HCP, a = 3.648 Å, c = 5.732 Å	HCP at RT; transforms to BCC above ~1,478 °C. Y lattice parameters lie between those of Ho and Er, consistent with its behaviour as a HREE surrogate in crystal chemistry.

Mechanical Properties

Property	Value	Notes
Tensile Strength	150 MPa	Low tensile strength for a refractory metal. Y is not used structurally; its mechanical properties are relevant to Y foil and rod fabrication for alloying additions and sputtering targets.
Young's Modulus	63 GPa	Moderate modulus. YAG single crystal (280 GPa) and YSZ ceramic (200–210 GPa) are much stiffer than the metal; thermal stress calculations use ceramic/crystal elastic constants.
Hardness	~38–44 HB (annealed)	Soft for a refractory metal; can be machined under standard conditions. Y is more air-stable than lanthanides and can be briefly handled in ambient air.
Elongation at Break	~30%	Good ductility; Y rod and foil (99.9%+) are used as sputtering targets for YBCO and YSZ thin-film deposition and as micro-addition master alloy precursors.
Poisson's Ratio	0.24	Typical for an HCP metal.

Chemical Properties

Property	Value / Behavior	Notes
Oxidation States	+3 only (Y³⁺: YCl₃, Y₂O₃, Y(NO₃)₃·6H₂O)	Y³⁺ follows identical coordination chemistry to the HREEs; EDTA, DOTA, and DTPA chelates of Y³⁺ have stability constants matching Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ — relevant to ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-TATE PRRT radiopharmaceutical design and REE separation process development.
Corrosion Resistance	Good; forms adherent Y₂O₃ passive layer; more stable in air and water than the lanthanides	Y is significantly more corrosion-resistant than La, Ce, Nd, or Pr; rod and foil can be handled in air for extended periods. Y additions to Fe and Ni alloys improve oxidation resistance by increasing oxide scale adhesion and reducing oxide growth rate.
Surface Oxide	Y₂O₃ (cubic C-type, transparent) forms in air	Y₂O₃ (mp ~2,425 °C) is used as a ZrO₂ stabiliser (YSZ), YAG/YIG/YVO₄ laser and phosphor host precursor, YBCO superconductor component, Y₂O₃ sintering aid in Si₃N₄/AlN ceramics, and ⁹⁰Y target material. Transparent Y₂O₃ ceramics are studied for high-power laser windows and scintillators.

Identifier	Value
Symbol	Y
Atomic Number	39
CAS Number	7440-65-5
UN Number	UN3089 (powder)
EINECS Number	231-174-8

Isotope	Type	Notes
⁸⁹Y	Stable	100%; I = 1/2, NMR-active. Monoisotopic. ⁸⁹Y NMR (I = 1/2; narrow lines; chemical shift range ~1,500 ppm) characterises Y³⁺ coordination in YSZ electrolytes (cubic vs. tetragonal phase discrimination), YAG laser crystal precursor solutions, and YBCO superconductor grain boundary chemistry. The single ICP-MS signal at m/z 89 makes Y a reliable trace-element monitor in geological and metallurgical analysis; Y/Ho ratio is a highly sensitive indicator of seawater vs. hydrotherm-derived REE in marine geochemistry. σ(thermal) = 1.28 barn; ⁸⁹Y(n,γ)⁹⁰Y (t½ = 64.1 hr, β⁻ 2.28 MeV max + 1.76 MeV γ at 0.01% abundance) produces the therapeutic radioisotope ⁹⁰Y used in liver radioembolisation microspheres (SIR-Spheres, TheraSphere) and PRRT of neuroendocrine tumours.

Scientific & Research Applications

Use Case	Form Typically Used	Description
YBCO High-Temperature Superconductor Research	YBCO (YBa₂Cu₃O₇₋δ) thin films by PLD or sputtering; YBCO coated conductors (RABiTS/IBAD substrate tapes); 99.9%+ Y₂O₃ precursor	YBCO (T_c = 92 K, liquid nitrogen cooled) is the most commercially developed HTS material. Research focuses on enhancing flux pinning (via BaZrO₃, BaHfO₃, Y₂O₃ nanorod inclusions), manufacturing kilometre-length coated conductor tape for power cables and MRI insert coils, and fault current limiters for grid protection.
YSZ Electrolyte & TBC Research	8-YSZ (8 mol% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂) plasma-spray powder; 3-YSZ tetragonal electrolyte tape; 99.9%+ Y₂O₃ precursor	YSZ TBC research addresses thermal cycling durability (>10,000 cycles at 1,200 °C surface temperature), CMAS (calcium-magnesium-aluminosilicate) resistance from sand/ash ingestion, and alternative compositions (rare-earth zirconates, pyrochlores) for >1,300 °C applications beyond YSZ stability limit.
⁹⁰Y Radiopharmaceutical Research	⁹⁰YCl₃ (from ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y generator or irradiation); ⁹⁰Y-DOTA conjugates	⁹⁰Y (pure β⁻ emitter, mean tissue range ~4 mm, max 11 mm) is conjugated to DOTATOC/DOTATATE (PRRT for somatostatin-positive neuroendocrine tumours) and to glass/resin microspheres for selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) of liver tumours. Unlike ¹⁷⁷Lu, ⁹⁰Y emits no γ — bremsstrahlung SPECT or PET with ⁹⁰Y PET (0.003% pair production) is used for post-treatment dosimetry.
⁸⁹Y NMR Spectroscopy	YCl₃ or Y(NO₃)₃ solution standards; Y-doped solid powders	⁸⁹Y solution NMR characterises Y³⁺ coordination in REE separation solvent systems, DOTA/DTPA chelate complexes for radiopharmaceutical design, and Y-containing battery electrolytes. Solid-state ⁸⁹Y NMR (MAS) provides phase discrimination in YSZ (cubic vs. tetragonal) and structural information in YAG, YIG, and YVO₄ host lattices.

Industrial & Commercial Applications

Sector	Form / Grade Used	Description
YSZ Thermal Barrier Coatings	8-YSZ plasma-spray powder (45–105 µm) and EB-PVD ingots (99.9%+ Y₂O₃ precursor); columnar 8-YSZ TBC by EB-PVD	YSZ TBC (~250 µm) plasma-sprayed or EB-PVD deposited on Ni-superalloy blades and vanes in every commercial jet engine and gas turbine. The low thermal conductivity (~2.3 W/m·K) of 8-YSZ allows turbine inlet temperatures 100–200 °C above the Ni-alloy melting point, directly enabling the fuel efficiency of modern high-bypass turbofan engines. Global TBC market consumes thousands of tonnes of Y₂O₃ per year.
YAG:Ce White LED Phosphors	Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce) phosphor powder or ceramic plates (99.9%+ Y₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ precursors)	YAG:Ce is the standard phosphor in blue-pumped white LEDs for general illumination, automotive headlights, and projectors. Ce³⁺ ⁵d→⁴f broadband yellow emission (530–570 nm peak) combines with residual blue to produce white light with CRI 70–90. Each high-power LED package contains ~10–100 mg of YAG:Ce; global LED phosphor demand drives significant Y₂O₃ consumption.
SOFC Electrolytes (8-YSZ)	8-YSZ tape-cast electrolyte (99.9%+ Y₂O₃ precursor); 3-YSZ for high-strength anode-supported cells	YSZ electrolyte is used in commercial HT-SOFC stacks (Siemens, Bloom Energy, Kyocera) operating at 800–1,000 °C for stationary power generation. Each kW of SOFC capacity contains ~5–15 g Y₂O₃. YSZ electrolytes are being complemented by ScSZ (higher conductivity) and GDC (lower temperature) in next-generation SOFC designs.
Laser Crystal Hosts (YAG, YLF, YVO₄)	Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG), YLiF₄ (YLF), YVO₄ single crystals grown from Y₂O₃ + activator ion precursors (Czochralski or Bridgman)	Y provides the host lattice for virtually all rare-earth-doped solid-state lasers: Nd:YAG (1,064 nm), Er:YAG (2,940 nm), Ho:YAG (2,090 nm), Yb:YAG (1,030 nm), Tm:YAG (2,013 nm), and Er:YLF, Nd:YVO₄. YAG's high thermal conductivity (10 W/m·K), cubic symmetry, and chemical stability make it the pre-eminent laser host material. Global laser crystal market for Y-containing hosts exceeds several hundred tonnes of Y₂O₃/year.

Purity	Applications	Notes
99% (2N)	Ceramics, metallurgy, and electronic components.	Cost-effective grade for industrial-scale processes.
99.9% (3N)	Photonics, superconductors, and nuclear research.	High-purity grade essential for sensitive and high-tech applications.

Synonym / Alternative Name	Context
Y	Chemical symbol; from Ytterby (Sweden), the same village that gave its name to Tb, Er, and Yb. Used in YSZ TBC specifications, YAG laser crystal datasheets, YBCO superconductor literature, and ICP-MS REE databases (m/z 89, Y/Ho ratio as marine geochemistry proxy).
Y metal	Commercial form designation for ingot, rod, foil, or powder. Used in YBCO thin-film sputtering target specs, Y-addition master alloy procurement, and ⁹⁰Y radiopharmaceutical target material documentation.
Y element	Scientific designation used in ⁸⁹Y NMR spectroscopy and crystal chemistry literature (Y³⁺ as HREE surrogate in garnet and oxide ceramics).
Yttrium metal	Full commercial designation in REACH/RoHS documentation, ASTM REE metal standards, and jet engine TBC material qualification documents.
Yttrium element	Used in academic databases, YBCO superconductor physics publications, YSZ electrolyte science texts, and ⁹⁰Y radiopharmaceutical nuclear medicine literature.
Yttrium rare earth metal	Trade designation; Y is classified as critical on EU and US materials lists. Critical applications in YSZ TBCs (jet engines), YAG:Ce LED phosphors, YBCO superconductors, and ⁹⁰Y radiopharmaceuticals drive demand, with China dominating global REE separation and Y₂O₃ production.
Yttrium rare earth element	Geochemical designation; Y behaves as a HREE (co-precipitates with HREEs in garnet, monazite, and xenotime) and its Y/Ho ratio is one of the most sensitive geochemical tracers of marine vs. hydrothermal REE sources, since seawater preferentially enriches Y relative to Ho through carbonate complexation.
Element 39	Periodic table designation used in XRF/ICP-MS software, nuclear data libraries (⁸⁹Y neutron activation, ⁹⁰Y β⁻ decay data for SIRT dosimetry), and reactor physics codes tracking ⁹⁰Y as daughter of ⁹⁰Sr fission product.

My Wish List

Last Added Items

You have no items in your wish list.

Services

Applications

No minimum order

Free shipping included

Customized Materials

99% stock availability