Cadmium tungstate
Cadmium tungstate (CdWO4 or CWO), the cadmium salt of tungstic acid, is a dense, chemically inert solid which is used as a scintillation crystal to detect gamma rays. It has density of 7.9 g/cm3 and melting point of 1325 °C. It is toxic if inhaled or swallowed. Its crystals are transparent, colorless, with slight yellow tint. It is odorless. Its CAS number is 7790-85-4.[1] It is not hygroscopic.
The crystal is transparent and emits light when it is hit by gamma rays and x-rays, making it useful as a detector of ionizing radiation. Its peak scintillation wavelength is 480 nm (with emission range between 380 and 660 nm),[2] and efficiency of 13000 photons/MeV. It has a relatively high light yield, its light output is about 40% of NaI(Tl), but the time of scintillation is quite long (12−15 μs).[2] It is often used in computed tomography. Combining the scintillator crystal with externally applied piece of boron carbide allowsScript error: No such module "Unsubst". construction of compact detectors of gamma rays and neutron radiation.
Cadmium tungstate was used as a replacement of calcium tungstate in some fluoroscopes since the 1940s.[3][4] Very high radiopurity allows use of this scintillator as a detector of rare nuclear processes (double beta decay, other rare alpha and beta decays) in low-background applications.[5] For example, the first indication of the natural alpha activity of tungsten (alpha decay of 180W) was found in 2003 with CWO detectors.[6] Due to different time of light emission for different types of ionizing particles, the alpha-beta discrimination technique has been developed for CWO scintillators.[7]
Cadmium tungstate films can be deposited by sol-gel technology. Cadmium tungstate nanorods can be synthesized by a hydrothermal process.[8]
Similar materials are calcium tungstate (scheelite) and zinc tungstate.
It is toxic, as are all cadmium compounds.
References
External links
Template:Cadmium compounds Template:Tungstates
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