Surface oxidation in glassy arsenic trisulphide induced by high-energy γ-irradiation

• As2O3 crystallites are observed at the surface of γ-irradiated As2S3 samples.
• Observed crystallites can be removed from the surface after washing and polishing.
• γ-Irradiation broadens the FSDP due to satellite lines located on its both sides.
• As2O3 and S phases extracted at the surface are responsible for satellite lines.

Influence of high-energy γ-irradiation with ~3 MGy dose on glassy g-As2S3 was investigated by a complex of scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. A white layer composed of separate 1–2 μm rhombohedral arsenolite As2O3 crystallites was observed at the surface of γ-irradiated samples. These As2O3 extractions along with crystallised S allotropes are responsible for expansion of the first sharp diffraction peaks in the XRD patterns of g-As2S3.