Holmium Oxide (Ho2O3) Powder

Holmium oxide (Ho₂O₃), also known as Holmia, is an important rare earth oxide. Similar t other rare earth oxides, the crystal structure of Ho₂O₃ is cubic. The nanoparticles of Ho₂O₃ are usually available in powder form in various different particle sizes. The appearance of holmium oxide changes under different lighting conditions; under daylight it is in a pale orange colored powder while under trichromatic light it is an orange-red. The wide bandgap of holmium sesquioxide is around 5 eV. The surface of holmium oxide exhibits surface bifunctional, acid-base properties. This behavior of holmium oxide is utilized to catalyze the dehydration of alkan-2-ols to alkan-1-enes and the oxidative coupling of methane. The optical properties of Ho₂O₃ are also used as a glass colorant or in glasses to transmit radiation for wavelength-calibration instruments and laser applications.