Radiation chemistry of low-temperature aqueous glasses. Part 3.—Alkaline glasses either pure or containing organic chloride

Abstract

On irradiation with γ-rays at 77°K alkaline glasses give small yields of products, G(H₂)= 0.12 = 2G(O₂), and develop e.s.r. and optical spectra (Gε= 3.7 ± 0.2 × 10⁴ for 6N NaOH and 4.2 ± 0.2 × 10⁴ for 8N NaOH at λ_max= 588 nm) characteristic of the trapped electron e^–_t. When organic halides RCl are present, the optical and e.s.r. spectra show that G(e^–_t) is diminished and R· radicals are formed. The kinetics of thermal decay of e^–_t in these glasses can be interpreted on the bases : (a) that the main decay reaction is [graphic omitted], and (b) that the trapped electrons are divisible into two or more groups distinguished by temperature-dependent, characteristic half-lives of first-order decay. These and related effects are discussed.