Cadmiumbased

Cadmium-based refers to materials or compounds that contain cadmium, a soft, bluish-white metal with useful semiconductor and optical properties. Cadmium and many of its compounds are highly toxic, leading to strict regulation in many regions and a push to replace cadmium where feasible. Safety, handling, and end-of-life disposal are important considerations for cadmium-based materials.

Common cadmium-based compounds include cadmium sulfide (CdS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and cadmium selenide (CdSe). These materials are relevant in optics and electronics, with CdS, CdSe, and CdTe forming quantum dots that exhibit size-tunable light emission and absorption. Cadmium oxide (CdO) is used as a transparent conducting oxide in some electronic devices. CdS has applications as a pigment in plastics and coatings, and cadmium-based pigments have historically provided bright yellows and oranges.

In industrial and energy contexts, CdTe is notable for thin-film solar cells, where CdS/CdTe junctions are used in certain photovoltaic architectures. Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries were widely used for portable electronics and aerospace applications but have been largely replaced by other chemistries due to environmental concerns, although some specialized uses persist where temperature or safety tolerances are critical.

Health and environmental concerns are central to the cadmium narrative. Cadmium exposure can affect kidneys and bones and is classified by many agencies as a carcinogen. Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation heighten the emphasis on regulatory controls, waste management, and recycling. Efforts continue to develop cadmium-free alternatives and to improve the safety and end-of-life handling of existing cadmium-based technologies.