Optical Fluorides

Nanoparticles research has been providing innovative solutions in the field of biomedicine, cosmetics and electronics which may not have been possible by using the basic elements in their original states. This will elaborate on the properties and applications of Ytterbium Trifluoride nanoparticles. Ytterbium Trifluoride (YbF3) nanoparticles are a source of ytterbium that is insoluble in water. It is available in submicron, ultra high purity and nanopowder forms. The other names by which Ytterbium Trifluoride is known are ytterbium trifluoride and trifluoroytterbium.

Ytterbium belongs to the F Block, Period 6 and fluorine belongs to Block P, Period 2 of the periodic table. Safety information to be noted about these particles is that they are harmful if inhaled and if they come in contact with skin or eyes.

Some of the chief applications of Ytterbium Trifluoride are as below Production of metals as they have an affinity to oxygen Oil refining, pharmaceuticals and synthetic organic chemicals Alloying of metals ,Optical deposition ,Fiber optics, lasing and fiber amplifying applications, In silicon cells for the conversion of radiation to electricity.

Yttrium fluoride has been proposed as a substitute for thorium fluoride in anti-reflection coatings for the infrared range. The ion assisted deposition (IAD) of YF3 in order to obtain dense and low absorbency layers in the 8 to 12 mm spectral window. Refractive index and extinction coefficient of this fluoride were determined from spectrophotometry measurements. We have then associated the YF3 with ZnS and Ge layers so as to obtain four layer anti-reflection coatings on germanium. The stress induced by each layer in the coating was measured and the sum was shown to be equal to the stress of the total coating. Eventually, an industrial, high efficiency, both side anti-reflection coating on germanium was developed using IAD YF3 film.

Modified glassy carbon electrode with Ytterbium Trifluoride nanoparticles (YFNPs)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was fabricated and then successfully used for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). YFNPs were successfully coated on the MWCNTs via the intermediate of noncovalent hydrophobic interactions of the MWCNTs surface with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The YFNPs and immobilization of YFNPs on MWCNTs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The particle size of YFNPs was measured to be around 45 nm. The catalytic peak currents for AA, DA and UA were linearly dependent on their concentrations in the range of 2.0–600.0, 2.0–560.0 and 1.8–640.0 μM, respectively, with the corresponding detection limits of 0.77, 0.22 and 0.17 μM. The modified electrode provided good sensitivity and stability, and was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of AA, DA and UA in human blood serum and urine samples.