Study of the precipitation behavior of NaCl:Pb and KCl:Pb by optical spectroscopy2

The aggregation and precipitation behavior of lead in NaCl and KCl crystals has been systematically investigated by absorption and luminescence spectroscopy. For NaCl, absorption bands at 265 and 285 nm have been identified which correspond to intermediate stages in the formation of a double band (262–266 nm) associated with PbCl₂ precipitates. The kinetics of growth during ageing as well as the thermal annihilation behavior have been obtained for all bands. The emission spectra for excitation at those absorption bands have also been determined. For KCl, absorption bands at 265 and 280 nm develop during ageing at 160 and 200°C and their growth-rate is markedly enhanced by plastic straining. Their emission spectra involve a main band at $\text{\$}\text{?}$550 nm. In contrast to NaCl, no stage has been found where those absorption bands feed into a final band, which could be associated with PbCl₂ precipitates.