On the dehydration mechanism of Mg(OH)2 by a high-energy electron beam

The dehydration process in Mg(OH)(2) induced by high-energy electron irradiation is studied by in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy. During dehydration, both the low energy-loss spectra and the Mg L-23 edge show the existence of partially oxidized Mg- or O-deficient MgO in the dehydrated products, which is not seen in the thermally dehydrated MgO. This indicates that the dehydration mechanism under the electron beam may be different from the mechanism involved in a thermal process. 0 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2976319]