Analysis of Pb dopant distributions in KCl monocrystals by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry

The energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis in combination with the scanning electron microscopy was used for investigations of the microdistribution of Pb dopants in solution-grown KCl crystals. In applying an absorption filter technique (using an about 30 μm thick aluminium foil arranged into the X-ray path between the specimen and the detector) the resulting detectability of the Pb minor constituents is improved by a factor of about 3. The minimum detectable content of lead within the KCl matrix could be estimated to have the order of magnitude of 0.1 mole per cent Pb. (author)