Transformations of radicals and ions in irradiated sodium sulfate doped with nitrate ions

The structure and properties of the paramagnetic centers formed by γ-irradiation at 77 K in sodium sulfate doped with nitrate ions have been investigated by the EPR method. The NO^2? ₃, NO₂ and SO^? ₄ radicals have been identified. The orientation of NO^2? ₃ relation to crystallographic axes is determined. In the 77-400 K temperature range the transformations of observable radicals have been studied. The mechanisms of their formation and thermal annealing have been discussed. The symmetry of nitrate ions in sodium sulfate was investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. At the concentration of NO^? ₃ up to 5.5 × 10¹⁸ g^?1 the nitrate ion was supposed to have a planar or pyramidal configuration of the D_3h or C_3V symmetries. At the concentration of the dopant higher than 5.5 × 10¹⁸ g^?1 the nitrate ions with the C_2V symmetry were observed.