Vanadium is an elemental metal with an atomic number of 23 in the periodic table. It is represented by the chemical symbol V. Let’s discuss Vanadium in detail.
Vanadium is a silvery metal that doesn’t corrode. It is a transition metal that is hard, silvery-grey, and malleable. Rarely does the elemental metal occur in nature, although it can be artificially extracted. Numerous uses of Vanadium are discussed below:
- Vanadium alloys
- Laser and optics
- Other applications
Vanadium alloys
- Vanadium, used as a steel addition, accounts for over 80% of production.
- Armour plates, axles, tools, piston rods, and crankshafts are all made of vanadium-steel alloys because they are durable.
- Steel is vibration and shock-resistant because it contains as low as 1% vanadium.
- Because Vanadium has a low neutron absorbency, vanadium alloys are employed in nuclear reactors.
- Vanadium is used during the production of certain alloys and ceramics.
Laser and optics
Vanadium is used in the manufacture of laser crystals and other optical applications.
Other applications
Vanadium has applications in nanofibers and nanowires.
Let’s take a deep dive to discuss the uses of various compounds of Vanadium like Vanadium monoxide, Vanadium dioxide, Vanadium pentoxide and Ferrovanadium in detail.
Vanadium monoxide uses
Vanadium monoxide is commonly known as vanadium(II) oxide is denoted by the chemical formula VO. It is an inorganic substance. It belongs to the diverse group of binary vanadium oxides.
- Semiconductor
- Fuel cells and aircraft
- Other applications
Semiconductor
Due to electron delocalisation in t2g orbitals, VO is a semiconductor.
Fuel cells and aircraft
VO display ionic conductivity, which is used in fuel cells and aircraft.
Other applications
Vanadium monoxide has various applications in ceramic, glass and optics.
Vanadium dioxide uses
Vanadium dioxide or Vanadium(IV) oxide is an inorganic compound that is amphoteric. The chemical formula of the compound is VO2. It has a dark blue appearance.
- Surface coatings
- Imaging
- Memory devices
- Windows and roofs
- Neuromorphic computing
Surface coatings
Vanadium dioxide is used in surface coatings.
Imaging
VO2 is used in sensing and imaging.
Memory devices
VO2 has applications in phase-change switches and memory devices.
Windows and roofs
Passive radiative cooling that cools or warms depending on the temperature, such as intelligent windows and roofs, employs Vanadium dioxide.
Neuromorphic computing
VO2 has extensive uses in neuromorphic computing and space communications systems.
Vanadium pentoxide uses
Vanadium pentoxide, more precisely Vanadium (V) oxide, is an inorganic compound. The chemical formula for the compound is V2O5. It is the most common and stable form of Vanadium.
- Oxidising agent
- Precursor
- Catalyst
- Chemical reaction
- Other applications
Oxidising agent
V2O5 is an oxidising agent and an amphoteric oxide due to its high oxidation state.
Precursor
As the main precursor to vanadium alloys, V2O5 is the most significant vanadium compound from an industrial aspect.
Catalyst
V2O5 is a popular industrial catalyst.
Chemical reaction
V2O5 is used to produce other chemicals, such as phthalic acid, polyamide, and oxalic acid, as well as to oxidise ethanol into ethanal.
Other applications
In addition to being utilised in creating superconductive magnets, vanadium pentoxide is also used in ceramics.
Ferrovanadium uses
Ferrovanadium has a chemical formula FeV. Ferrovanadium is an alloy with a vanadium concentration ranging from 35 to 85% that is created by mixing iron and Vanadium.
- Alloys
- Corrosion resistance
Alloys
The incorporation of Ferrovanadium enhances the properties of ferrous alloys.
Corrosion resistance
- Improved corrosion resistance to alkaline reagents and sulfuric and hydrochloric acids is one such application of Ferrovanadium.
- Additionally FeV helps the material’s tensile strength-to-weight ratio.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Vanadium is a chemical element of high industrial importance. V is of rare existence but can be isolated artificially. Vanadium belongs to group 5 of the periodic table and has extensive applications in optics, ceramics and nanostructure.
Hello everyone, I am Mansi Kapoor. I am a Postgraduate in Chemistry from the University of Delhi and have working experience as an SME in Chemistry.
By sharing the University of Delhi’s tradition of excellence, I am committed to doing better for the world through research, education, and community efforts.