Only a few atoms of Darmstadtium have been produced until now. The production of significant amounts may turn impossible because of its radioactive fission producing α-decay chain with half-life of 0.27 ms. First atom of Darmstadtium was prepared by nuclear fusion, involving bombarding a lead target with nickel:
208Pb + 62Ni -> 269Ds + 1n
Another Darmstadtium isotope had been obtained by fission of nickel atom with the heavier lead nucleus:
208Pb + 64Ni -> 271Ds + 1n |