Americium

Uses of Americium
Isotope 241Am is used (in the form of americium dioxide) in very small amounts in ‘ionization chamber’ smoke detectors. One gram of americium dioxide provides enough active material for more than three million household smoke detectors(2). Americium is used as a portable source of gamma rays and alpha particles for use in medicine, science and industry. It is also used as a target material in nuclear research to make even heavier elements.