Trapped Electrons and Radicals in γ-Irradiated Propylene Carbonate Glasses

Abstract

Radicals formed by γ-irradiation of propylene carbonate (PC) glasses at 77 °K were studied by e.s.r. and optical spectroscopy. Trapped electrons were identified by their narrow (ΔHms = 4.5 G) Gaussian e.s.r. line at g = 2.0028 which was completely resolved from the radical spectrum. The trapped electrons were unstable at 77 °K. They decayed fairly rapidly via a process exhibiting non-homogeneous kinetics believed to be reaction with positive ions. The temperature dependence of the e.s.r. spectra of the other radicals formed is discussed although conclusive assignment of the lines could not be made.Ultraviolet photolysis of the radicals in the irradiated PC glasses produced new species identified as HCO, CO3−, and CH3 by their characteristic e.s.r. spectra. In addition, a complex optical absorption band in the 500–750 nm region was assigned to a combination of the absorption bands of the CO3− radical anion and the HCO radical.