ESR characterisation of SO−3 and SO−4 radicals in X-irradiated kainite (KMgClSO4.3H2O)

The ESR spectra of the kainite (KMgClSO₄.3H₂O) crystal revealed an intense isotropic (g = 2.004) peak C attributed to the SO⁻₃ radical and two pairs of lines (A₁, A₂) and (B₁, B₂) bearing intensity ratio 5:3. The intensity and linewidth variation of peak C suggested that the signal contains an unresolved shf structure. The power saturation studies on SO⁻₃ indicate that its ESR line is homogeneously broadened and its line shape is Lorentzian. The spin—lattice and spin—spin relaxation times (T₁ and T₂) of SO⁻₃ have been estimated to be 0.44 s and 656 μs, respectively. The analysis of the anisotropic pairs of lines show that they constitute two sets A and B and are due to two chemically inequivalent SO⁻₄ radical species in the lattice. The ESR spectra of the polycrystalline samples recorded at 300 and 77 K confirm the isotropic behaviour of SO⁻₃ and chemical inequivalence of two types of SO⁻₄ radicals. The principal g-values of the SO⁻₄ radical were evaluated to be: g₁ = 2.007, g₂ = 2.011, g₃ = 2.014 for species A and g₁ = 2.008, g₂ = 2.012, g₃ = 2.015 for species B. The low microsymmetry of the SO²⁻₄ ion in the lattice seems to promote the radiation damage.