Structural stability and guest occupation behavior of gamma-irradiated argon-loaded hydroquinone clathrates

The structural stability and guest occupation behavior of argon-loaded hydroquinone (Ar-HQ) clathrates after γ-irradiation were investigated through a suite of diffraction, spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric methods. Ar-HQ, synthesized via the gas-phase reaction method at 12 MPa for 10 days showed complete structural transformation from pure α-form into β-form HQ clathrates. Upon γ-irradiation up to 50 kGy, we found that the crystal structure of Ar-HQ clathrates remained intact with only a marginal change in the Ar storage capacity. These results provide useful guidelines to evaluate the potential of host-guest clathrate compounds as nanostructured container-media of radioisotope gases. •Argon-loaded hydroquinone clathrates are synthesized by the gas-phase reaction.•Argon-loaded hydroquinone clathrates are fully converted to the clathrate β-form.•There is only a marginal change in the argon storage capacity upon γ-irradiation.•Amount of weight loss is not related to the dose amount of γ-irradiation.