Nickel-63 can be produced from the stable isotope of nickel in the 62Ni(n, Y)63Ni nuclear reaction. Its half-life is 100 years, and it emits (3_-radiation. It is used as a radiation source of electron capture detectors in gas chromatographs.

8.6.9 Copper Isotopes

Cu-64 can be obtained from natural copper by the 63Cu(n,^)64Cu nuclear reaction, half-life is 12.7 h. Copper-64 has branching decay emitting both positive and nega­tive beta particles. The carrier-free Cu-64 isotope can be obtained from zinc in the 64Zn(n, p)64Cu nuclear reaction. Simultaneously, the 64Zn(n,^)65Zn reaction also takes place. The two product nuclides, Cu-64 and Zn-65, can be separated by electrolysis.

Cu-66 is produced from copper by the 65Cu(n, Y)66Cu nuclear reaction. The half-life of Cu-66 is 5 min, and it emits negative beta particles.

Natural zinc contains 66Zn isotope, too. By the (n, Y) and (n, p) nuclear reactions of 66Zn, inactive 67Zn and 65Cu, respectively, are formed. However, the half-life of 65Cu is short enough (5 min), so its decomposition can be waited, it does not pol­lute 64Cu.

8.6.10 Zinc-65

See at copper isotopes. The half-life is 244 days, and decays are electron capture and negative and positive beta decays.