The photolysis of solid potassium azide

Abstract

Experimental measurements of photoconductance in potassium and barium azides and of the kinetics of photolysis of the potassium salt are reported. The theory previously advanced to explain the photodecomposition of barium azide is confirmed and extended by a calculation of the probable lifetime of a trapped exciton. Ionic conductance measurements enable the exciton traps to be identified with vacant cation sites and it is pointed out that the thermal activation energy required for the decomposition of the double trapped excitons is governed by steric considerations.