Cadmium tungstate

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Cadmium tungstate
Names
IUPAC name
Cadmium(II) tungstate
Identifiers
7790-85-4 YesY
Properties
CdWO4
Molar mass 360.25 g·mol−1
Appearance colorless crystals with a yellow tint
Density 7.9 g/cm3, solid
Melting point 1,325 °C (2,417 °F; 1,598 K)
0.04642 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Vapor pressure {{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

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. 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 380-660 nm),[1] 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).[1] It is often used in computed tomography. Combining the scintillator crystal with externally applied piece of boron carbide allows[citation needed] construction of compact detectors of gamma rays and neutron radiation.

Cadmium tungstate was used as a replacement of calcium tungstate in some fluoroscopes since 1940's.[2][3] Very high radiopurity allows to use this scintillator as a detector of rare nuclear processes (double beta decay, other rare alpha and beta decays) in low-background applications.[4] For example, the first indication of the natural alpha activity of tungsten (alpha decay of 180W) had been found in 2003 with CWO detectors.[5] Due to different time of light emission for different types of ionizing particles, the alpha-beta discrimination technique has been developed for CWO scintillators.[6]

Cadmium tungstate films can be deposited by sol-gel technology. Cadmium tungstate nanorods can be synthesized by a hydrothermal process.[7]

Similar materials are calcium tungstate (scheelite) and zinc tungstate.

It is toxic, as are all cadmium compounds.

References

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External links


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