Terbium

Definition

Terbium is a chemical element with the symbol Tb and atomic number 65. It is a silvery-white rare earth metal that is malleable, ductile and soft sufficient to be cut with a knife. Terbium is never found in nature as a free element, but it is restricted in many minerals, including cerite, gadolinite, monazite, xenotime and euxenite.

Application

Terbium is used to dope calcium fluoride, calcium tungstate and strontium molybdate, materials that are used in solid-state devices, and as a crystal stabilizer of fuel cells which operate at elevated temperatures, together with ZrO2.