Terbium's elusive plus-4 form emerges under ordinary lab conditions, opening possibilities for rare-earth metals
Chemists in a new study led by the University of Iowa report they have isolated and described in detail an atypical state of the rare-earth metal terbium, an advance that could expand its use in quantum technologies, including computing and advanced sensors. The study, "Structural and spectroscopic characterization of a Tb(IV) polyoxometalate," is published in the journal Nature Communications.
Scientists from the University of Iowa have discovered a rare, plus-4 oxidation state of the rare-earth metal terbium under ordinary lab conditions, a discovery that could significantly expand its applications in quantum technologies and advanced sensors. Terbium, primarily mined in China, is crucial in various devices, including televisions, fluorescent lamps, and medical X-rays.
However, the metal's presence as part of the lanthanide group, which shares similar physical properties, complicates its separation and use. To overcome this, the Iowa researchers created a cage-like molecular structure with tungsten and oxygen atoms, binding terbium and inducing a change in its oxidation state. By adding a chemical oxidant called potassium persulfate, they successfully transformed terbium into the plus-4 oxidation state, a state that had previously only been observed in controlled environments.
This breakthrough not only allows for the detailed study of terbium's properties in this new state but also opens the door to more efficient separation and broader applications of other lanthanides.
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