Ruthenium black
CAS 7440-18-8
Ruthenium black is finely divided ruthenium metal used as a hydrogenation catalyst for the hardest substrates — arene ring reduction and sugar hydrogenation — and as a feedstock for sputtering targets, thick-film resistor pastes and Ru chemical synthesis.
Typical specification
| Molecular formula | Ru |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 101.07 |
| Ruthenium content | ≥ 99.95% (trace metals basis) |
| Appearance | Black to dark-grey powder |
| Particle size | Grade-dependent; specification per lot |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 0.5% |
| Trace impurities (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Fe) | ICP report per lot |
| Origin of metal | Primary and certified recycled feed, full assay traceability |
| HS code (export) | 7110410000 |
Lot-specific COA issued with every shipment. SDS and ICP elemental impurity data available on request.
Where Ru black is used
Aromatic ring and sugar hydrogenation
Ruthenium is the metal of choice for hydrogenating benzene rings to cyclohexanes and sugars to sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol) under pressure — reactions where palladium and platinum are sluggish or over-selective.
Electronics and coatings feedstock
High-purity Ru powder feeds sputtering-target manufacture for semiconductor barrier and capacitor-electrode layers, and RuO₂-based thick-film resistor pastes.
Precursor to ruthenium chemistry
The economical entry point for synthesizing RuCl₃, ruthenium carbonyls and the coordination complexes used in metathesis-catalyst and photoredox-catalyst manufacture.
Storage and shipping
Storage. Store sealed and dry. Avoid strong oxidizers: never heat ruthenium powder in air above ~450 °C or treat with oxidizing acids, as volatile toxic RuO₄ can form.
Shipping. Transport classification depends on particle size; each air shipment is covered by a cargo transport condition appraisal.
Packaging. 5 g · 25 g · 100 g · 500 g · Custom lots by contained-metal weight
Synonyms
- Ru black
- Ruthenium powder (high surface area)
- Ruthenium, finely divided
- Ruthenium metal powder
Frequently asked questions
Why is ruthenium attractive on cost?
Ruthenium trades at a fraction of the platinum and palladium price per ounce, so for reactions it can catalyze — ring hydrogenation especially — it is by far the cheapest PGM route. Quotes reference the day's Ru price on contained metal.
What safety point is specific to ruthenium?
Never expose the powder to strong oxidizers or ignite it in air: ruthenium tetroxide (RuO₄) is volatile and highly toxic. Under normal reducing or inert conditions the metal is entirely benign to handle.
Can you supply narrow particle-size grades?
Yes — sieve cuts and surface-area grades are available and certified on the COA. Sputtering-target and paste customers should state the D50 and impurity limits required.
Do you take back Ru-bearing scrap?
Yes — spent catalyst, target scrap and residues are assayed on receipt and the ruthenium credited against new supply.