Exoelectron emission accompanying the phase transformations in some silver salts

Abstract

Results of experimental investigations of the photostimulated exoelectron emission (EEE) accompanying polymorphic phase changes in silver iodide, silver nitrate and silver sulphate are reported. The measurements of the temperature dependence of the intensity of photostimulated EEE from reagent grade powder materials were performed in air at atmospheric pressure, the exoelectrons being detected with an open air point counter with saturated ethanol quenching vapour. The differential thermal analysis (DTA) control measurements were performed at the same heating rate. A comparison of the results of the EEE and DTA measurements shows clearly that the polymorphic phase transitions in the investigated materials are accompanied by enhancement (peaks) of the EEE intensity. This enables the detection of the solid-solid phase transitions in inorganic compounds to be made by the EEE technique.