cesium dichromate
This element is a soft, silvery-gold alkali metal that was discovered by Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff in 1860. In its elemental form, it is a rare element found only in a few minerals like pollucite and lepidolite.
Its name derives from the Latin word caesius which means sky blue and relates to its vibrant blue lines in its spectrum. It is used in a variety of applications, including the manufacturing of most accurate atomic clocks and in the production of cesium formate-based drilling fluids.
Chemical structure and properties
The chemical structure of this element is based on a tetravalent aluminum (Al3+) structure. Despite its alkali-metal nature, it is neutral to acidic in nature, so that it can be used for both oxidation and reduction.
Cesium has a low melting point and is very reactive, which makes it an excellent material for adsorption and vaporization. It is widely used in the electronics industry for the production of photosensible surfaces.
In particular, it is used for the production of OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) screens. However, these screens are produced on a very large scale and thus involve chromates that are hazardous to the environment and to human health.
Therefore, it is important to find alternative adsorbents that do not contain cesium in the form of a chromium salt and that do not cause the release of chromates during vaporization or during transport of the materials. In the field of cesium adsorption, this is achieved by natural or modified zeolites that are well suited for such applications as they contain a low surface charge and thus can accommodate cations without loss of sorption capacity.
