Ytterbium oxide
Yb₂O₃The primary traded form and a feedstock for fiber-laser dopants and other compounds.
Yb70
Ytterbium
A cheap heavy rare earth doing some of the most precise work in physics.
Ytterbium is unusual among the heavy rare earths for remaining inexpensive despite genuine high-technology demand. Ytterbium-doped fibres and crystals provide gain in high-power lasers. Ytterbium atoms are also used in optical timekeeping research: NIST’s cited optical lattice clock uses ytterbium-171, whereas ytterbium-174 is the most abundant natural isotope.
Uses
- Yb³⁺-doped fibres, crystals and ceramics provide gain in high-power and tunable lasers.
- Optical lattice clocks are a research application: NIST’s cited clock uses Yb-171, not the more abundant Yb-174.
- Ytterbium compounds also have specialist catalyst applications.
Sources: Royal Society of Chemistry — ytterbium: usesRP Photonics — Ytterbium-doped laser gain mediaNIST — Yb optical lattice clock (Yb-171)
Key Facts
- Atomic number
- 70
- Primary supply
- Byproduct of heavy-rare-earth separation
- Key constraint
- Small volumes with diversifying high-tech demand
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Isotope reference
Isotopes & Nuclear Properties
Ytterbium has seven naturally occurring isotopes listed as stable in NUBASE2020. Yb-174 is the most abundant; NIST’s cited optical lattice clock uses Yb-171, a different isotope.
| Isotope | Natural abundance | Half-life / status |
|---|---|---|
| ¹⁶⁸Yb | 0.126(1)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷⁰Yb | 3.023(2)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷¹Yb | 14.216(7)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷²Yb | 21.754(10)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷³Yb | 16.098(9)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷⁴Yb | 31.896(26)% | Stable |
| ¹⁷⁶Yb | 12.887(30)% | Stable |
CIAAW — ytterbium (natural abundances)NUBASE2020 evaluated nuclear properties (half-lives and status)
CIAAW amount-fraction uncertainties are shown in parentheses where reported. “Stable” means no radioactive half-life is assigned in this table.
Abundances are CIAAW amount fractions converted to percentages for normal terrestrial material; parentheses give uncertainty in the final digits. “Stable” means no decay is established in the cited evaluation, not that all decay modes are impossible. Natural abundance and nuclear stability do not establish chemical safety; enriched or activated material needs separate assessment.
Pricing & Market Trends
Market Context
$15/kgstable trend
Ytterbium oxide, 99.99% minimum, free on board • As of 2025 average
The USGS-reported average remained nearly flat at $15/kg in 2021, $14/kg in 2022, $13/kg in 2023, $14/kg in 2024, and $15/kg in 2025, making it one of the most stable rare-earth oxide price series.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Rare Earths (Heavy) (February 2026)
Key Drivers
- Steady industrial fiber-laser demand
- Emerging precision-timekeeping research
- Limited exposure to recent HREE volatility
Common Ytterbium Compounds
Ytterbium-doped fiber
Yb-doped fiberThe gain medium in industrial fiber lasers and amplifiers.
Ytterbium chloride
YbCl₃A soluble precursor used in materials synthesis.
Direct Answers
Ytterbium questions, answered
What is ytterbium used for?
Ytterbium is used as a dopant in high-power fibre and solid-state lasers. Optical lattice clocks are another research application; the NIST clock cited here uses ytterbium-171.
What is ytterbium-174?
Ytterbium-174 is the most abundant naturally occurring ytterbium isotope, at 31.896(26)% in CIAAW’s table, and is listed as stable in NUBASE2020. It should not be confused with Yb-171 used in NIST’s cited clock.
How much does ytterbium cost?
The USGS reported a 2025 average of $15/kg for ytterbium oxide at 99.99% minimum purity, free on board. This is historical context rather than a live quote.