Cationic Dependence of X-ray Induced Damage in Strontium and Barium Nitrate

The response of solids to X-ray irradiation is not well understood in part because the interactions between X-rays and molecules in solids depend on the intra- and/or intermolecular electronic properties of the material. Our previous work demonstrated that X-ray induced damage of certain ionic salts depends on the irradiating photon energy, especially when irradiated with photons of energy near the cation's K-edge. To advance understanding of the cationic dependence of X-ray photochemistry, we present studies of X-ray induced damage of barium nitrate and strontium nitrate. Polycrystalline samples of barium and strontium nitrate were irradiated with high flux monochromatic synchrotron X-rays at selected energies near the K-edge of the respective cations. The damage processes were studied with powder X-ray diffraction, and irradiation products, NO₂ and O₂, were characterized via Raman spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that irradiating barium and strontium nitrate with photons of energy greater than the K-edge of the cation promotes a higher rate of decomposition compared to that observed when irradiating with photons of energy below the K-edge. Additionally, differences in X-ray induced damage between the two compounds are examined and discussed, and evidence of the diffusion of irradiation products is presented.