Cationic Dependence of X-ray Induced Damage in Strontium and Barium Nitrate

Journal Article · Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.8b08224· OSTI ID:1487029

Goldberger, David ^[1]; Park, Changyong ^[2]; Evlyukhin, Egor ^[1]; Cifligu, Petrika ^[1]; Pravica, Michael ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-4002, United States
2. High-Pressure Collaborative Access Team (HPCAT), Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States

The response of solids to x-ray irradiation is not well understood, in part, because the interactions between x-rays and molecules in solids depend on the intra- and/or inter-molecular electronic properties of the material. Our previous work demonstrated that x-ray induced damage of certain ionic salts depends on the irradiating photon energy, especially when irradiated with photons of energy near the cation’s K-edge. To advance understanding of the cationic dependence of x-ray photochemistry, we present studies of x-ray induced damage of barium nitrate and strontium nitrate. Polycrystalline samples of barium and strontium nitrate were irradiated with high flux monochromatic synchrotron x-rays at selected energies near the K-edge of the respective cations. The damage processes were studied with powder x-ray diffraction, and irradiation products, NO₂ and O₂, were characterized via Raman spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that irradiating barium and strontium nitrate with photons of energy greater than the K-edge of the cation promotes high rate of decomposition compared to that observed when irradiating with photons of energy below the K-edge. Additionally, differences in x-ray induced damage between the two compounds are examined and discussed, and evidence of the diffusion of irradiation products is presented.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357; NA0002912; FC08-01NV14049; FG02-99ER45775; NA0001974
• OSTI ID: 1487029
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1483873; OSTI ID: 1483886; OSTI ID: 1488763
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory Journal Issue: 44 Vol. 122; ISSN 1089-5639
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English