ACETONE-INDUCED TRIBOLUMINESCENCE OF TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINE

The triboluminescence of triphenylphosphine has been found to be acetone-dependent and is positively correlated with acetone content, crystal size, and negatively correlated with the age of the crystal. There is no measurable difference in the unit cell dimensions of triboluminescent triphenylphosphine crystallized from acetone and those of inactive material from cyclohexane. Similar emission results are obtained from crystals obtained from saturated solutions in some, but not all carbonyl-containing solvents, and from methanol and ethanol but not diethyl ether or ethyl acetate. Inactive material was also obtained from saturated solutions in benzene, cyclohexane or chloroform. The triboluminescence and photoluminescence maxima and bandwidths were the same, within the error limits of the experimental method and instrumentation used, for triphenylphosphine crystallized from acetone, acetonitrile, or cyclohexanone. Among the other highly arylated heteroorganics tested in measures to extend this correlation, triphenylamine and 1,2,5-triphenylphosphole were triboluminescent as purchased or prepared and when recrystallized from acetone, cyclohexane and several other solvents. Tritylamine, triphenylphosphine oxide, and triphenylphosphine sulfide were not triboluminescent as purchased or prepared, or when re-crystallized from acetone or cyclohexane.