Further studies on the effects of temperature and γ-radiation on the electrical and optical properties of some solid alizarin and quinizarin metal chelates

Abstract Niobium(V) and tantalum(V) react with Alizarin Red S(AlRS) and quinizarin-3-sulphonic acid (QuS) to give the corresponding solid metal chelates. Their infrared and electronic absorption spectra were studied in the solid state. The temperature dependence of the DC electrical conductivity, activation energy for conduction and energy gap were evaluated and discussed in detail and in relation to their molecular structures and optical properties. The effects of a γ-absorbed dose (5×10 7 rad) on the IR and electronic absorption spectra and DC electrical conductivity were demonstrated and discussed. For 1:2 complexes, superconductivity or metallic conductivity was induced by the action of ionizing radiation. A suggested mechanism was put forward for the γ-absorbed dose induced superconductivity in the 1:2 complexes of AlRS and QuS polycrystals. The possibility of their application as absorbers and/or detectors for energetic ionizing radiation was established.