Copper-64 is a radioisotope of the chemical element copper. The atomic nucleus of the nuclide 64Cu consists of the element-specific 29 protons and 35 neutrons; the mass number 64 results from the sum of these nucleons.
In practice, 64Cu is used as a medical radionuclide (see below) - there are no practical technical applications.
See also: list of Copper isotopes.
Copper-64 decays radioactively via three modes including positron emission (17.52% β+), electron emission (38.5% β–; Auger electrons) and electron capture (44.0% EE).
Half-life T½ = 12.7006(20) h (hours) respectively 4.572216 × 104 seconds s.
Decay mode | Daughter | Probability | Decay energy | Details | γ energy (intensity) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
β- | 64Zn | 38.48(3) % | 0.5796(6) MeV | 1.346 MeV (0.472(4) %) | |
ε | 64Ni | 61.52(3) % | 1.6746(6) MeV | β+: 17.52 % (652.62 keV) EE: 44.0 % |
Direct parent isotopes are: 64Zn, 64Ni.
Copper-64 does not occur naturally and must be produced artificially; several processes are available for this, which are carried out in nuclear power plants or a biomedical cyclotron. Starting materials include the stable natural and possibly enriched isotopes nickel-64, zinc-64 and copper-63. The corresponding reactions are:
Due to its radiation properties in combination with its short half-life, copper-64 is a medical radionuclide that is suitable for both positron emission tomography (64Cu-PET) and for cancer radiation therapy (theranostic).
Substance monographs are available for the following 64Cu radiopharmaceuticals:
Nuclear magnetic properties of the NMR active Nuclide 64Cu
The copper-64 nucleus is basically suitable for NMR spectroscopy.
Z | Isotone N = 35 | Isobar A = 64 |
---|---|---|
18 | 53Ar | |
19 | 54K | |
20 | 55Ca | |
21 | 56Sc | |
22 | 57Ti | |
23 | 58V | 64V |
24 | 59Cr | 64Cr |
25 | 60Mn | 64Mn |
26 | 61Fe | 64Fe |
27 | 62Co | 64Co |
28 | 63Ni | 64Ni |
29 | 64Cu | 64Cu |
30 | 65Zn | 64Zn |
31 | 66Ga | 64Ga |
32 | 67Ge | 64Ge |
33 | 68As | 64As |
34 | 69Se | 64Se |
35 | 70Br | |
36 | 71Kr | |
37 | 72Rb | |
38 | 73Sr |
[0] - Research articles in scientific journals via PubMed: Copper-64.
[1] - Yeye Zhou et al.:
64Cu-based Radiopharmaceuticals in Molecular Imaging.
In: Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment, (2019), DOI 10.1177/1533033819830.
[2] - Olga O. Krasnovskaya et al.:
Recent Advances in 64Cu/67Cu-Based Radiopharmaceuticals.
In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(11):9154, (2023), DOI 10.3390/ijms24119154.
[3] - Gaia Dellepiane, Pierluigi Casolaro, Isidre Mateu, Paola Scampoli , Saverio Braccini:
Alternative routes for 64Cu production using an 18 MeV medical cyclotron in view of theranostic applications.
In: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 191, 110518, (2023), DOI 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110518.
Last update: 2024-08-19
Perma link: https://www.chemlin.org/isotope/copper-64
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