Pulse radiolysis of aqueous solutions of monovalent copper

The possibility of obtaining atomic copper (Cu/sup 0/) and the mechanisms of its radiation-chemical transformations in aqueous solutions of Cu(I) with addition of NaCl (2 M) and methanol were studied by pulse radiolysis. It was shown that the reduction of Cu(I) proceeds via the stage of unstable Cu(O) chloride complex, which rapidly decomposes to Cu/sup 0/. In the decay of Cu/sup 0/, a dimeric Cu/sub 2//sup +/ ion is first formed, and then more complex particles with the composition of Cu/sub n//sup m+/ are obtained. A further increase in the clusters leads to the separation of metallic complex. Absorption spectra of the particles formed were obtained and the rate constants of their formation and decay reactions were measured.