Electrolytic cell-free 57Co deposition for emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

We have developed a simple, inexpensive and efficient method for an electrochemical preparation of samples for emission Mössbauer spectroscopy (EMS) and Mössbauer sources. The proposed electrolytic deposition procedure does not require any special setup, not even an electrolytic cell. It utilizes solely an electrode with a droplet of electrolyte on its surface and the second electrode sunk into the droplet. Its performance is demonstrated using two examples, a metallic glass and a Cu stripe. We present a detailed description of the deposition procedure and resulting emission Mössbauer spectra for both samples. In the case of a Cu stripe, we have performed EMS measurements at different stages of heat-treatment, which are required for the production of Mössbauer sources with the copper matrix.