Low-temperature fluorescence of some bromide-ion association complexes in hydrobromic acid glasses at –196° C

Abstract

An examination has been made for the fluorescence of simple bromo-ion association complexes in hydrobromic acid glasses at –196° C. Strong fluorescence was observed for Sb(III), Sb(V), As(III), As(V), Bi, Ce(III), Pb, Tl(I), Sn(II) and U(VI), and the effects of variables such as hydrobromic acid molarity, time of irradiation, relationship between fluorescence intensity and metal-ion concentration were studied. With a standard commercial spectrofluorimeter with a slightly modified sample cell, these ions could be detected in hydrobromic acid at concentrations varying from 10^–5 to 10^–8M. Copper(I) and tellurium(IV) also exhibit weak fluorescence.