Aluminum fluoride is a colorless solid and an important additive to lower the melting point of electrolytes in the smelting process. The resulting alloy is widely used to increase production efficiency.
Aluminium fluoride is also a low-index optical thin film, making it an attractive material for near UV transparency applications. It is also a useful additive to enhance cycling performance and rate capability in batteries.
Alf3 has many hydrated forms, including monohydrate x, trihydrate x, and hexahydrate x, with the hexahydrate exhibiting several water molecules per crystal. The most common hydrate is the AlF3 xH2O complex, containing one or more molecules of water for every two fluoride ions in a crystalline crystal.
What makes aluminium fluoride the stars of the show is its impressive ionic structure which, in combination with its optical and acoustic properties, enables it to be a high-end optical material for use in photonic devices, such as laser diodes, LEDs, and optical fibers. A major challenge to its success is the squeezing of its polymer backbone into a tiny crystal lattice.
The ionic structure of AlF3 is also responsible for its high-tech reputation in the field of optics, where it is often utilised as a lens material in microscopy and as an additive to improve fluorescence and transmittance. It is also an excellent lubricant for semiconductor and glass surfaces.
The best way to find out more about the illuminating functions of the aluminium fluoride is to ask your local MSE Supplies for more information. Our knowledgeable and friendly team are always happy to help.