Influence of electron capture decay of 57Co on the Mössbauer emission spectrum of hydrated cobalt chlorides

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Abstract
The Mössbauer emission spectra of 57Co in CoCl2 · 2H2O and CoCl2 · 6H2O measured from 1.6 to 300 °K exhibit both the divalent and the trivalent charge states of 57Fe associated with numerous defect configurations. A close comparison of these spectra with the absorption spectra of 0.1 at.% 57Fe in the same hydrated cobalt chloride hosts is made. We demonstrate that the anomalous charge states and the defect species are a consequence of the self‐radiolysis of the water ligands by the low energy electrons and x rays produced from the electron capture decay. The experiments in the antiferromagnetic state of these compounds suggest that the damage occuring from the self‐radiolysis in the neighborhood of the decaying ion breaks the magnetic superexchange paths.