Defects in Low Temperature Irradiated Single Crystals of NaClO3: ClO3 Centers

Defects generated in single crystals of NaClO3 by x irradiation at −247 and −196°C have been studied using ESR and uv spectroscopy. The defects are assigned to: ClO3, ClO2, and O2−. ClO3 is formed in two modifications with different g and A tensors, optical absorption, and thermal stability at −196°C. One modification can be transformed into the other by illumination with light of wavelengths longer than 5500 Å. A mechanism for the light induced decay of ClO3 involving electron transfer from O2− to ClO3 is proposed. Comparison is made between ClO3 formed in NaClO3 and in irradiated perchlorates.