Lutetium(III) iodide or lutetium iodide is an inorganic compound consisting of iodine and lutetium, with the chemical formula of LuI3.
Lutetium(III) iodide can be obtained by reacting lutetium with iodine:[1]
2 Lu + 3 I2 → LuI3
Lutetium(III) iodide can also obtained by the reacting metallic lutetium with mercury iodide in vacuum at 500 °C:
2 Lu + 3 HgI2 → 2 LuI3 + 3 Hg
The elemental mercury generated in the reaction can be removed by distillation.[2]
The lutetium(III) iodide hydrate crystallized from the solution can be heated with ammonium iodide to obtain the anhydrate.[3]
It is a brown, very hygroscopic solid with a bismuth(III) iodide-type crystal structure. In air, it quickly absorbs moisture and forms hydrates.[4] [5] [6] The corresponding oxide iodide is also readily formed at elevated temperature.
Lutetium(III) iodide doped with cerium is designed for use in PET scanners.[7] Lutetium iodide can be used together with yttrium iodide and gadolinium iodide in LuI3-YI3-GdI3 scintillators to detect neutron and gamma radiation.[8]