Jul 4 2013
Nanoparticles have a potentially vast area of application from high-tech industries to biomedical fields. They are known to possess excellent catalytic, optical, magnetic, and electronic properties.
Holmium is a Block F, Period 6 element. It is a rare earth element that is relatively soft and malleable. It possesses the highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element. It is found in minerals such as gadolinite and monazite. The morphology of these particles is spherical, and they appear as a black powder.
Holmium nanoparticles are graded as flammable solids.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of holmium nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
Ho |
| CAS No. |
7440-60-0 |
| Group |
3 |
| Electronic configuration |
[Xe] 4f11 6s2 |
Physical Properties
The physical properties of holmium nanoparticles are given in the following table.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
8.80 g/cm3 |
0.317 lb/in3 |
| Molar mass |
164.93 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of holmium nanoparticles are provided in the table below.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting point |
1474°C |
2685°F |
| Boiling point |
2700°C |
4892°F |
Applications
The potential applications of holmium nanoparticles are in the following areas:
- Plastics, coatings, nanofibers, nanowires, and textiles
- Alloy and catalyst applications
- As a dopant in glass and optical fibers
Source: AZoNano