Fabrication of californium-252 sources

Molecular electrodeposition has been previously employed for the preparation of the transuranium and transplutonium elements. The present communication deals with californium-252 which has been successfully deposited in quantities of from 5 to 250 μC together with an optimum amount (25 μg/cm2) of natural uranium. For quantities of 252Cf exceeding 25 μg, carrier is no longer required and yields of up to 500 μg/cm2 should be realized. The sources, which were plated onto stainless steel and aluminum, display a uniformity of better than 1 percent for an area of 1.5 cm2. A study of the structure and composition of the sources is being carried out by means of scanning and conventional electron microscopy. The method is simple, rapid and capable of producing sources of superior quality than aqueous plating procedures. (U.S.)