Holmium (Ho)
In the second half of the 19th century, the development of spectral analysis and the publication of the periodic table, along with advancements in electrochemical separation techniques for rare earth elements, significantly accelerated the discovery of new rare earth elements. In 1879, the Swedish chemist Per Teodor Cleve discovered a new element and named it holmium after Stockholm, Sweden. This marked an important step in the study of rare earth metals.
Although the application of holmium is still being explored, its usage remains relatively limited. However, recent advancements have shown promising potential. The Baotou Steel Rare Earth Research Institute has successfully developed high-purity holmium metal using high-temperature and high-vacuum distillation purification technology. This material has a purity level of over 99.9% (Ho/ΣRE > 99.9%) and contains minimal non-rare earth impurities, making it suitable for advanced technological applications.
Currently, the main uses of holmium include:
1. **As an additive in metal halide lamps**: These are gas discharge lamps that evolved from high-pressure mercury lamps. They contain various rare earth halides, and when the gas discharges, they emit different colors of light. Cesium iodide is commonly used in xenon lamps to enhance the concentration of metal atoms in the arc region, thus improving radiation efficiency.
2. **Used as an additive in strontium iron or yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)**: Holmium can be incorporated into these materials to improve their properties for specific applications.
3. **Erbium-doped YAG lasers (Ho:YAG)**: These lasers emit at 2 micrometers, which is highly absorbed by human tissue—about three orders of magnitude higher than other types of lasers. This makes Ho:YAG particularly effective in medical procedures, offering improved surgical precision and reducing thermal damage to surrounding tissues. The laser’s free beam allows fat removal without excessive heat, minimizing harm to healthy tissue. In the U.S., holmium lasers are used in glaucoma treatments, helping to reduce surgical discomfort. China has also achieved international standards in 2-micrometer laser crystal technology, and further development in this area is encouraged.
4. **In magnetostrictive alloys like Terfenol-D**: A small amount of niobium can be added to reduce the external magnetic field required for saturation magnetization, enhancing the alloy's performance.
5. **In optical fiber systems**: Erbium-doped fibers are used in fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and fiber optic sensors. These components play a crucial role in modern high-speed fiber-optic communication systems.
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Tags: Rare earth elements
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