Promethiumbased

Promethium-based describes materials or devices that incorporate promethium, a radioactive lanthanide metal. These materials are typically compounds such as oxides, fluorides, salts, or intermetallics in which promethium is the active element, as well as radioisotope-containing devices and sources. Promethium-based materials are used in specialized applications where a compact, long-lived source of beta or gamma radiation is advantageous.

Promethium is a rare, radioactive element with no stable isotopes. It is not found in significant quantities in nature; commercial promethium is produced in nuclear reactors or during the processing of spent nuclear fuel as a byproduct, and is manufactured and handled under strict regulatory control due to radiation hazards.

Chemically, promethium resembles the other lanthanides. The most common oxidation state is +3. In compounds, promethium forms oxides, halides, and coordination complexes. As a metal, promethium is soft and silvery but rapidly decays in storage, releasing beta radiation and, for some isotopes, accompanying gamma radiation.

Applications for promethium-based materials are limited to specialized sectors. Promethium-147, for example, has been used in radioluminescent devices and historically in compact betavoltaic and thermal-electric power sources, as well as in scientific radiography and tracer studies. Because of its radioactivity, handling, fabrication, and disposal require licensed facilities and strict safety protocols, including shielding, monitoring, and radiation safety training. Environmental release is tightly controlled.

See also: Lanthanides, Radioisotopes, Nuclear batteries, Radiochemistry.