Europium(III) oxide explained

Europium(III) oxide (Eu₂O₃), is a chemical compound of europium and oxygen. It is widely used as a red or blue phosphor in television sets and fluorescent lamps, and as an activator for yttrium-based phosphors. It is also an agent for the manufacture of fluorescent glass. Europium fluorescence is used in the anti-counterfeiting phosphors in Euro banknotes.^[1]

Europium oxide has two common structures: Monoclinic (mS30, space group C2/m, No. 12)^[2] and cubic (cI80, space group Ia, No. 206).^[3] The cubic structure is similar to that of manganese(III) oxide.

It may be formed by ignition of europium metal.^{[4] [5]}

It can react with acids to form the corresponding europium(III) salts.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Europium and the Euro . 2009-06-04 . 2009-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090804012831/http://www.smarterscience.com/eurosandeuropium.html . dead .
2. ICSD Entry: 631453 . Cambridge Structural Database

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   . . 2022-07-04 .
3. X-ray structure and microstructure determination of the mixed sesquioxides (Eu_1−xYb_x)₂O₃ prepared by a sol–gel process . Z. K. . Heiba . Y. . Akin . W. . Sigmund . Y. S. . Hascicek . . 2003 . 36 . 6 . 1411–1416 . 10.1107/S0021889803019319 .
4. Book: Akhilesh . Ugale . Thejo N. . Kalyani . Sanjay J. . Dhoble . 2018 . Pablo . Martín-Ramos . Manuela . Ramos Silva . Lanthanide-Based Multifunctional Materials: From OLEDs to SIMs . Elsevier . 59–97 . Chapter 2 - Potential of europium and samarium β-diketonates as red light emitters in organic light-emitting diodes . 10.1016/B978-0-12-813840-3.00002-8 . 978-0-12-813840-3 .
5. Web site: Europium . . ScienceDirect . Elsevier . 2022-07-04 . "Europium is the most reactive rare-earth element... It swiftly oxidizes in air, ignites in the range of 150–180°C to form Eu³⁺ oxide (Eu₂O₃)." .