Trace Sciences International

Nickel Isotopes

Nominal Mass
Accurate Mass
% Natural Abundance
Chemical Form
Enrichment Available %

58 Ni

57.9353462 (16)
68.0769

metal, oxide, sulphate

99+

60 Ni

59.9307884 (16)
26.2231

metal, oxide

68 – 97+

61 Ni

60.9310579 (16)
1.1399

metal, oxide

56 – 90+

62 Ni

61.9283461 (16)
3.6345

metal

94 – 98+

64 Ni

63.9279679 (17)
0.9256

metal, oxide

95+

Nickel Isotopes are used for the production of several radioisotopes. Ni-64 is used for the production of Cu-64 which is used in radioimmunotherapy. Ni-61 can be used for the production of the PET radioisotope Cu-61. Ni-62 is used for the production of the radioisotope Ni-63 which can be used as an XRF source, as an electron capture source in gas chromatographs and as a power source in microelectromechanical systems. Ni-58 can be used for the production of the radioisotope Co-58. Ni-60 is used for the production of Co-57 which is used in bone densitometry and as a gamma camera reference source. Ni-60 is also used as an alternative for the production of Cu-61, but the route via Ni-61 is more common. Finally, most stable Nickel Isotopes have been used to study human absorption of Nickel. Ni 64 is currently in high demand.