Unraveling the mystery of "tech red" - a volatile technetium oxide

Chem Commun (Camb). 2018 Jan 31;54(10):1261-1264. doi: 10.1039/c7cc09191e.

Abstract

We show that a Tc2O5 molecular species is the likely identity of an unknown volatile oxide which has remained uncharacterized for 50+ years. Exploration of this molecule's absorption spectra and intermolecular self-interactions provides a close match to experimental data and an explanation for volatility and resistance to crystallization.