As a highly insoluble thermally stable Samarium source, Samarium Oxalate has specialized applications in glass, ceramic, phosphors, lasers, and thermoelectric devices, etc. Another essential application of Samarium and its compounds is used as catalyst and chemical reagent, which is effective to catalyze dehydration of acyclic primary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. In its usual oxidized form, Samarium can be added to ceramics, optical and infrared absorbing glass in which it increases absorption of infrared radiation. It has also proved to be used as a neutron absorber in control rods for nuclear power reactors.
Besides, Samarium oxide can be used in preparation of other samarium salts upon evaporation and crystallization by dissolving in mineral acids. Samarium oxide is acquired by burning the metal in air or oxygen over 150℃ or by decomposing samarium carbonate, nitrate, oxalate or sulfate thermally.
