Description
Overview
Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal, highly reactive with water, producing hydrogen gas and requiring careful storage. It is typically processed into sealed ampules, rubidium chloride, or other compounds for safe use in specialized applications. Renowned for its role in atomic clocks, where rubidium-87 ensures precise timekeeping for GPS and telecommunications, it is also used in photocells for light detection and in quantum computing research. Rubidium is primarily extracted as a byproduct from lepidolite and pollucite ores, often alongside lithium or caesium, in limited quantities due to its rarity.
Properties
- Composition: Typically 99.8% or higher pure rubidium, often stored in vacuum-sealed ampules or inert gas to prevent reaction.
- Density: 1.53 g/cm³ (bulk solid).
- Melting Point: 39.3°C (102.7°F).
- Color: Silvery-white with a metallic sheen; may tarnish rapidly to grayish or yellowish due to oxidation in air.
- Particle Size: Not typically used as a powder due to reactivity; when processed, forms like rubidium chloride may have particle sizes of 10–100 micrometers.
- Malleability: Highly malleable in solid form, easily cut with a knife, but not practical in applications due to reactivity.
- Electrical Conductivity: High for a metal, ~7.8 MS/m (about 13% of copper’s conductivity), reduced in compounds or oxidized forms.
- Thermal Conductivity: Moderate, ~58 W/(m·K) in solid form, lower in compounds or when oxidized.
- Corrosion Resistance: Extremely poor; reacts vigorously with air and water, forming rubidium oxide or hydroxide, requiring sealed storage.
Applications
- Atomic Clocks: Provides precise timekeeping in GPS, telecommunications, and scientific research using rubidium-87’s hyperfine transition.
- Quantum Computing: Used in Bose-Einstein condensates and cold atom experiments for developing quantum processors.
- Photocells: Employed in photomultiplier tubes and infrared detectors for light-sensitive devices.
- Geological Dating: Rubidium-87’s radioactive decay is used in Rb-Sr dating to determine the age of ancient rocks.
- Ion Propulsion: Explored in experimental ion thrusters for spacecraft, leveraging rubidium’s low ionization energy.
- Medical Research: Used in positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies via rubidium isotopes.
Packaging options
Standard Format:
Ampules of 1–100 g
Packaging:
Argon-filled, vacuum-sealed ampules.
Custom Sizes Available:
Custom quantities available in 1–500 g ampules
Market outlook
Rubidium’s demand remains niche, driven by its precision timing in atomic clocks and emerging biomedical applications. Rubidium carbonate prices range from $5,000–$6,000 per kg as of early 2025, with Canada and China controlling most global supply. The market, valued at ~$350 million in 2025, is stable but poised for growth at a CAGR of 4–6% through 2030, fueled by advancements in telecommunications, quantum computing, and renewable energy storage.
Purchase & Compliance
Certificate of analysis included. Third-party testing offered. KYC may apply for bulk orders.
If you’d like more details on any of these materials, such as specific applications, market trends, or technical specifications, send us a message!
