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At least 91 records · Page 5

Review of radiation-induced defects in GaAs

Radiation-resilient optoelectronic materials are highly desired in space and nuclear applications, and understanding the relevant defects and electronic processes in those materials is crucial for both current and next-generation applications. GaAs is a prototypical semiconductor that serves as a foundational system for describing and understanding optoelectronic devices. In this review, both experimental studies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of irradiated GaAs are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the deep-level transient spectroscopy, irradiation-induced amorphization zones, and MD predictions of damage structures. The MD results are also compared to predictions of the non-ionized energy-loss model. Recent theoretical studies, in particular, density functional theory based calculations on the simple intrinsic defects and defect clusters in GaAs, are also reviewed. These defects have an important role in dictating the evolution of GaAs in radiation damage environments, as they impact the coupled dynamics of charge carriers. Finally, possible gaps and challenges toward the general understanding of defect evolution in GaAs are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Radiation Response of Low Dimensional Carbon Systems

The project is aimed at understanding the fundamentals of radiation response of low dimensional carbon systems and irradiation-induced mechanical property changes, with a focus on the unique phenomena caused by their geometry, boundary, and quantum size effects. In comparison with their bulk counterparts (graphite), radiation responses of low-dimensional carbon systems are substantially different. The differences exist at almost every stage of defect development, namely, displacement creation, damage cascade, thermal spike formation defect recombination, defect clustering, and structural reconstruction. Many traditional concepts in ion-solid interaction theory do not apply at the nanoscale or require substantial modification. Through this project, we systematically studied various aspects of radiation damage development in graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Revealing two-stage phase transition process in defective KTaO 3 under inelastic interactions

Here, the interactions of ions with defective KTaO 3 has been studied by irradiating pre-damaged single crystal KTaO 3 with 5 MeV C, 7 MeV Si and 12 MeV O ions at 300 K. By exploring these processes in KTaO 3 , the results show that, for a pre-damaged fractional disorder level of 0.3 and inelastic electronic energy loss, S e , ≥ 4.65 keV/nm (7 MeV Si ions), the synergistic interaction of Se with defects enables amorphous ion track creation. At lower values of S e (5 MeV C and 12 MeV O), minor increases in disorder are observed initially over a region of depth at an ion fluence of 10 ions/nm 2 , which may be due to dissolution of pre-existing interstitial or amorphous clusters; however, with further increase in ion fluence, a transition from irradiation-induced disorder production to ionization-induced damage recovery processes, not previously reported in KTaO 3 , is observed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Irradiation Driven Restructuring of Nanocrystalline ThO 2 and Th 1–x U x O 2 Thin Films

Irradiation induced structural changes of actinide oxide materials is a key consideration in their development and use as nuclear fuels. This study reported on the synthesis of ThO 2 and Th 1–x U x O 2 (x = 0.15, 0.50) thin films, fabricated using electrospray-assisted solution combustion synthesis, and their responses to ion irradiation. Krypton ion irradiations, up to a fluence of 1 × 10 16 ions/cm 2 , were carried out to simulate radiation damage induced by fission products in a reactor environment. Structural and chemical changes induced by irradiation were analyzed using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). It was determined that the extent and nature of irradiation-induced damage are strongly correlated with the uranium content. ThO 2 films were most susceptible to radiation-induced damage, with significant cavity formation and delamination from the substrate at high fluence. Of the compositions studied, Th 0.85 U 0.15 O 2 films showed the highest stability, characterized by moderate grain growth and the absence of voids or severe defect structures. In contrast, Th 0.5 U 0.5 O 2 films accumulated extensive damage, including the formation of a nanocrystalline central region. EELS analysis indicated that oxygen displacement is the primary driver of structural degradation in Th 0.5 U 0.5 O 2 films. α-particle spectroscopy confirmed minimal actinide loss across all compositions, underscoring the mechanical robustness of the films. These findings provide insight into the irradiation-induced damage mechanisms in Th O2 and Th 1–x U x O 2 systems, supporting their development as potential materials for nuclear fuels and irradiation-tolerant thin film targets in nuclear physics measurements.

Th1−xUxO2↗

Multi-energy ion irradiation effects and distinctive features of color center generation in yttria-stabilized zirconia driven by structural discrepancy

Regarding a requirement for inert matrix fuel (IMF) to burn minor actinides and plutonium and high-level waste immobilization, Yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO 2 -6.5 wt% Y 2 O 3 ) (YSZ) crystals with cubic phase are selected to comprehensively evaluate the irradiation resistance by irradiation-induced structural discrepancies across multiple energy conditions. Electronic excitation and nuclear collisions reveal distinct color centers, influenced by varying component ratios that reflect their formation mechanisms. Key factors driving ultra-fast structural transitions include collision cascades, pressure waves, and energy dissipation from electronic excitation. In this work, we find that in the electronic energy loss (E ele )-dominant region, internal latent tracks with unique surface nanostructures emerge, distinct from the defect clusters seen in the nuclear energy loss (E nuc )-dominant region, while the threshold for latent track formation and melting are identified. In conclusion, structural discrepancies driven by different energy-loss mechanisms promote the generation of singly ionized and nearest-neighbor doubly ionized oxygen vacancies, which respectively dominate the formation of F⁺ and T-centers, resulting in bandgap narrowing (4.80 eV → 4.73 eV), and furthermore triggering visible light emission (2.17 eV → 2.20 eV) in irradiated YSZ crystals, thus, enabling the design of novel irradiation-tailored material functionalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The microstructure effects on irradiation response of ferritic – martensitic steels

Microstructural optimization to achieve greater mechanical strength has been one of the focuses in ferritic–martensitic steels development. However, these optimized microstructures’ effects on the radiation response are not well known. In this work, two ferritic–martensitic steels (9Cr-NbMo and 9Cr-Ta) underwent neutron irradiation in the High Flux Isotope Reactor, and their room-temperature post-irradiation tensile properties and microstructure evolutions were investigated and compared. These two steels exhibit similar pre-irradiation tensile behavior, and their yield strengths are higher than that of other ferritic–martensitic steels by about 200–250 MPa. Microstructural characterization on pre-irradiated materials reveals a smaller grain size in 9Cr-Ta (2.8 ± 0.3 μm in 9Cr-Ta versus 4.3 ± 0.5 μm in 9Cr-NbMo) but higher dislocation density and precipitate density in 9Cr-NbMo. As is common for ferritic–martensitic steels at low irradiation temperatures (less than about 0.45T m ), irradiation-induced hardening at 400 °C was observed for both alloys. Irradiation at 490 °C causes the two alloys to exhibit different tensile behavior: 9Cr-Ta softens by 208 MPa in yield stress, whereas 9Cr-NbMo maintains strength. Additionally, microstructural characterizations were performed, including precipitate growth, dislocation, and defect formation. Using the barrier hardening model for microstructure–property correlation, the softening in irradiated 9Cr-Ta is primarily attributed to the significant dislocation recovery, while the strength lost from the slight dislocation recovery in 9Cr-NbMo was compensated by the additional strength from the irradiation-induced cavities. The microstructure effect (primarily precipitate, dislocation and boundary) on the radiation response is discussed herein.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Irradiation-induced grain boundary facet motion: In situ observations and atomic-scale mechanisms

Metals subjected to irradiation environments undergo microstructural evolution and concomitant degradation, yet the nanoscale mechanisms for such evolution remain elusive. Here, we combine in situ heavy ion irradiation, atomic resolution microscopy, and atomistic simulation to elucidate how radiation damage and interfacial defects interplay to control grain boundary (GB) motion. While classical notions of boundary evolution under irradiation rest on simple ideas of curvature-driven motion, the reality is far more complex. Focusing on an ion-irradiated Pt Σ3 GB, we show how this boundary evolves by the motion of 120° facet junctions separating nanoscale {112} facets. Our analysis considers the short- and mid-range ion interactions, which roughen the facets and induce local motion, and longer-range interactions associated with interfacial disconnections, which accommodate the intergranular misorientation. We suggest how climb of these disconnections could drive coordinated facet junction motion. These findings emphasize that both local and longer-range, collective interactions are important to understanding irradiation-induced interfacial evolution.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Implications of Microstructure in Helium-Implanted Nanocrystalline Metals

Helium bubbles are known to form in nuclear reactor structural components when displacement damage occurs in conjunction with helium exposure and/or transmutation. If left unchecked, bubble production can cause swelling, blistering, and embrittlement, all of which substantially degrade materials and—moreover—diminish mechanical properties. On the mission to produce more robust materials, nanocrystalline (NC) metals show great potential and are postulated to exhibit superior radiation resistance due to their high defect and particle sink densities; however, much is still unknown about the mechanisms of defect evolution in these systems under extreme conditions. Here, the performances of NC nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe) are investigated under helium bombardment via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bubble density statistics are measured as a function of grain size in specimens implanted under similar conditions. While the overall trends revealed an increase in bubble density up to saturation in both samples, bubble density in Fe was over 300% greater than in Ni. To interrogate the kinetics of helium diffusion and trapping, a rate theory model is developed that substantiates that helium is more readily captured within grains in helium-vacancy complexes in NC Fe, whereas helium is more prone to traversing the grain matrices and migrating to GBs in NC Ni. Our results suggest that (1) grain boundaries can affect bubble swelling in grain matrices significantly and can have a dominant effect over crystal structure, and (2) an NC-Ni-based material can yield superior resistance to irradiation-induced bubble growth compared to an NC-Fe-based material and exhibits high potential for use in extreme environments where swelling due to He bubble formation is of significant concern.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of Mechanistic Fission Gas Release and Swelling Models for UN Fuels in BISON

This report describes the work in NEAMS (Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation) to develop a mechanistic fission gas model for uranium nitride fuels in BISON. The existing Sifgrs (Simple integrated fission gas release and swelling) model tracks the average properties of two bubble populations in the bulk and at the grain boundaries. It was recognized that dislocations play a crucial role in the fission gas swelling of UN, and an irradiation-induced dislocation density model was needed, as well as a model describing how fission gas interacts with dislocations creating a third population of bubbles along dislocations. A mechanistic model that tracks dislocation bubbles was implemented in Sifgrs. This model was used to simulate fission gas swelling and release in UN. Lower-length-scale calculations and experimental observations from carbide fuel were leveraged to help populate the model with essential parameters. As a placeholder, an empirical function was formulated for the evolution of the dislocation network. Because of the difference in evolution of this network at different temperatures, the dislocation bubbles are able to capture behavior that the bulk intragranular bubbles cannot. It was found that the bulk bubbles dominate microscopic swelling at low temperatures, and the dislocation bubbles dominate at higher temperatures. Based on this model, the transition between the two bubble types is the main factor behind the breakaway swelling phenomenon in UN. In order to test the model, a couple of assessments were run. For the lower temperature JOYO pins, the model produces reasonable fission gas release and swelling values. For the higher temperature SP1 pin, the model dramatically underestimates the fission gas release. This issue is attributed to the gas being trapped inside dislocation bubbles, unable to escape to grain boundaries to cause fission gas release, and could be remedied by a mechanistic dislocation model that allows the dislocation density to decrease at very high temperatures. A preliminary mechanistic dislocation model was developed supported by first-principle calculations. These calculations provided valuable insight into how interstitial defects cluster in UN in the {110} orientation, and may eventually form dislocation loops, leading to the conclusion that dislocation loops may nucleate from these clusters. An estimate of the dislocation line energy in UN was obtained and will be improved in future work. The free-energy cluster dynamics code Centipede was used to track interstitial and vacancy absorption at dislocation loops and calculate their growth. In addition, improvements to Centipede were made including new convergence criteria for transient simulations and sink driving force updates.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Structural Damage and Recrystallization Response of Garnet Crystals to Intense Electronic Excitation

Here, the susceptibility to irradiation-induced damage, the fundamental mechanism of the relaxation kinetics, and the corresponding recrystallization effect related to the cation radius ratio are comprehensively investigated for Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 garnet crystals under 645 MeV Xe 35+ irradiation with different fluences of 5 × 10 11 –3 × 10 12 ions cm –2 . Regarding different lattice distortion and swelling levels, the observed microstructure transformations to disordered and amorphous phases, and corresponding hillock dimensions, consistently confirm that Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 has a higher susceptibility to radiation damage than Y 3 Al 5 O 12 . Combined with iTS model calculations, although Y 3 Al 5 O 12 has higher atomic temperature and energy deposition than Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 under the same ion velocity and electronic energy loss, the relatively high thermal conductivity and specific heat coefficient of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 crystals enhance the conduction and dissipation of deposition energy, and Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , with a higher cation-radius-ratio (r A /r B ), is more easily damaged to amorphous phase due to the less favorable kinetics of ordering and recovery of a melted track region to the crystalline phase. Additionally, the significant bandgap modification in spectral ranges of 5.88–6.75 eV for Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and 4.83–5.41 eV for Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 , and the enhancement of defect-assisted-related luminescence are achieved, providing a basis to design novel optoelectronic devices in microelectronics fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The effects of radiation-induced grain subdivision and dislocations on the fracture properties of uranium dioxide

Microcantilever bending tests were applied on uranium dioxide samples irradiated by 84 MeV Xe ions. Depending on the initial grain sizes, different levels of grain subdivision and dislocation development were observed near the irradiated surface. These radiation damage features were shown to degrade the fracture properties of both samples. The fundamental aspects of the radiation-microstructure-property relationships were discussed in this paper, taking a holistic consideration of the microcantilever bending data, fractography and microstructures. The separate effects of the irradiation-induced grain subdivision and dislocations on the fracture initiation and propagation of uranium dioxide were discussed. In conclusion, it was observed that radiation-induced dislocations and grain subdivision, without the presence of Xe bubbles co-located with the defects, cause reductions in the Young's modulus, fracture strain, and fracture stress, and a transition to intergranular fracture.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructural changes in nuclear graphite induced by thermal annealing

Irradiation-induced property change in nuclear graphite is particularly important when considering the in-service lifetimes of graphite components. In other works, it has been shown that annealing of irradiated graphite above the irradiation temperature may heal atomic-level defects and thus reverse some amount of physical property change. In this work, virgin nuclear graphite IG-110 was annealed at 2500°C to observe any microstructural changes due solely to high-temperature thermal annealing. We report the results shown in this study suggest that fullerene-like defects will arise due to thermal annealing near graphitization temperature. Consequently, such defects may directly contribute to non-recoverable physical property change which has previously been observed in irradiated nuclear graphites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The effects of high energy deuteron ion beam irradiation on the tensile behavior of HT-9

Ion beam implantations are widely performed to understand the effects of irradiation-induced displacement damage on nuclear structural materials. However, the volume of material that can be investigated is often limited by the maximum energies of accelerator facilitates, leading to a limitation in the thickness of samples whose mechanical properties can be evaluated. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 88-Inch Cyclotron offers a wide range of ions and energies, allowing for material ion implantations at larger scales than typical. Four HT-9 SS-J-geometry tensile specimens were polished and then irradiated with deuterons at the 88-Inch Cyclotron to doses of approximately 0.2 dpa prior to small scale tensile testing. Here, the results from this study show irradiation hardening characterized by the tensile test results and black dot irradiation defects. Additionally, a comprehensive look at low temperature irradiations of high-Cr F/M steels is presented and our results show agreement with the available data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Irradiation-induced formation of G-phase precipitates and M 2 X carbides in self-ion irradiated HT-9

Ferritic-martensitic steels with high chromium content are a promising material group for advanced nuclear systems due to their high temperature strength and good irradiation tolerance. HT-9 is an optimized and often-studied alloy in this group, but additional studies are required on its radiation response under extreme conditions to be experienced in various types of nuclear reactors, especially with respect to phase stability under irradiation. Self-ion irradiation of HT-9 by 5 MeV Fe ions was used to simulate neutron-induced behavior reaching peak doses of 100 and 300 dpa at temperatures ranging from 450 to 550 °C. M 23 C 6 carbides that existed prior to irradiation were found to remain stable under all examined irradiation conditions. As irradiation progressed at 450 and 500 °C, however, formation of spherical-like G-phase precipitates and needle-like M 2 X carbides was observed. G-phase precipitates were found to be enriched in Ni, Si, and Mn, and show no interface segregation, whereas needle-like M 2 X carbides were rich in Cr and Mo and clearly displayed interface segregation of Ni and Si. M 2 X carbide formation is believed to be assisted by vacancies, while G-phase precipitation is thought to be assisted by interstitials. Finally, this difference in defect-mediated formation leads to a difference in distribution with depth. M 2 X carbides are distributed over shallower depths than that of G-phase precipitates, consistent with defect imbalance predictions that consider the influence of the injected interstitial effect.

atom probe tomography↗

Irradiation-induced grain boundary migration in an ion irradiated Fe-Ni-Cr-Mn alloy

Irradiation-induced grain boundary migration (RIGM) has previously been observed in different metallic systems. However, the mechanisms and dependence on irradiation conditions remained unclear. Here, we report on radiation-induced GB migration (RIGM) in a coarse-grain Fe-Ni-Cr-Mn austenitic alloy irradiated with Fe ions at 400 °C to 15, 35, and 70 dpa. Grain boundary migration is only observed in the irradiated regions and exhibits a linear dependence on the locally delivered dose, as estimated from SRIM calculations. Notably, the same linear dependence is noted across the nominal doses. Furthermore, the evidence points to grain boundary migration being mediated by the flux of point defects to grain boundaries and motivates additional systematic studies of RIGM in these systems.

Grain boundary↗

Unveiling Swift Heavy Ion Track Morphology in Sr-Based High-Entropy Perovskites

The incorporation of multiple cations on a single lattice site in the high-entropy oxides is considered the key driving factor for modifying the known atomic-level response to energetic ion irradiation due to the presence of structural disorder; however, these effects are not well-understood yet. In this work, we present atomic-level insight into irradiation-induced nanoscale phase transformations in a perovskite-structured high-entropy oxide, Sr(Zr 0.2 Sn 0.2 Ti 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2 )O 3 (Sr(HE)O 3 ), subjected to 774 MeV swift Xe heavy ions, where damage is dominated by inelastic ion−lattice interactions. While these ions generally are known to create nanoscale disordered channels, “ion tracks”, along the penetration direction in the material, this study shows the formation of discontinuous and partially recrystallized ion tracks in Sr(HE)O 3 . Compared to SrTiO 3 irradiated under identical energy loss conditions, the ion tracks in Sr(HE)O 3 exhibit significantly reduced diameters and a markedly different interfacial structure. Notably, the crystalline−amorphous interface in Sr(HE)O 3 shows minimal lattice distortion, confined to approximately 2−3 monolayers, in contrast to the extended disordered shell commonly observed in SrTiO 3 . Using in situ atomic-resolution electron microscopy, we further demonstrate that the amorphous/disordered regions within Sr(HE)O 3 ion tracks remain highly stable under electron irradiation, whereas tracks in SrTiO 3 readily recrystallize. This enhanced stability is attributed to the dominance of structural and chemical complexity arising from multiple B-site cations, which suppress defect migration and templated recrystallization driven by electronic excitations and local heating. Overall, this study highlights how high-entropy oxide chemistry fundamentally reshapes irradiation damage evolution, offering insights into defect formation and phase stability under extreme conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of irradiation damage on the hardness and elastic properties of quaternary and high entropy transition metal diborides

Multi-principal component transition metal (TM) diborides represent a class of high-entropy ceramics (HECs) that have received considerable interest in recent years owing to their promising properties for extreme environment applications that include thermal/ environmental barriers, hypersonic vehicles, turbine engines, and next-generation nuclear reactors. While the addition of chemical disorder through the random distribution of TM elements on the cation sublattice has offered opportunities to tailor elastic stiffness and hardness, the effects of irradiation-induced structural damage on the physical properties of these complex materials have remained largely unexplored. To this end, changes in the hardness and elastic moduli of a high-entropy TM diboride (Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2 Ta 0.2 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.2 )B 2 and three of its quaternary subsets following irradiation with 10 MeV gold (Au) ions to fluences of up to 6 × 10 15 Au cm -2 are investigated at the micrometer and sub-micrometer length-scales via the dispersion of laser-generated surface acoustic waves (SAW) and nanoindentation, respectively. The nanoindentation measurements show that the TM diborides exhibit an initial increase in hardness following irradiation with energetic Au ions, with a subsequent decrease in hardness following further irradiation. One quaternary composition, (Hf 1/3 Ta 1/3 Ti 1/3 )B 2 , exhibits a notable exception to the trend and continues to exhibit an increase in hardness with ion irradiation fluence. Although differences in the absolute values of the effective elastic moduli obtained from the measured SAW dispersion and nanoindentation are observed (and attributed to microstructural variations at the measurement length-scale), both techniques yield similar trends in the form of an initial reduction and subsequent saturation in the elastic modulus with increasing ion irradiation fluence. The quaternary TM diboride (Hf 1/3 Ta 1/3 Ti 1/3 )B 2 again exhibits a departure from this trend. The high-entropy TM diboride (Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2 Ta 0.2 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.2 )B 2 exhibits the greatest recovery in hardness and modulus when irradiated to high ion fluences following initial changes at low fluence, indicating superior resistance to radiation-induced damage over its quaternary counterparts. Opportunities for designing HECs with superior hardness and modulus for enhanced radiation resistance (compared to their single constituent counterparts) by tailoring chemical disorder and bond character in the lattice are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Integral X-ray diffuse scattering for studying irradiation-induced dislocation loops in single crystals

Numerical diffuse scattering cross-section calculations are used to establish a rigorous basis for determining the concentration and size distribution of dis­location loops in irradiated single crystals from integral X-ray diffuse scattering (XRDS) measurements. Differential XRDS intensities for prismatic {111} type dislocation loops are numerically calculated as a function of loop radius R and wavevectors q relative to Bragg reflections in tungsten. The results show the well known 1/q 2 Huang scattering form at small q that transitions to a ∼1/q 4 dependence associated with the Stokes–Wilson approximation for q ≳ 1/R. More importantly, they show further that the 1/q 4 falloff is not the asymptotic large-q form of the diffuse scattering for small loops (R < 200 Å) as has often been assumed. Rather, for loop sizes as small as R ≃ 5 Å with strong curvature, the calculations show definitively that the scattering transitions to a robust 1/q 5 falloff at larger q that arises due to the local strains near the dislocation core defining the circumference of the dislocation loops. The presence of this 1/q 5 asymptotic form for both small and large loops is experimentally confirmed using an integral XRDS measurement around the 110 reflection on self-ion-irradiated tungsten combined with numerically calculated integral XRDS cross-sections. Accordingly, the historical two-region theoretical treatment of the cross-sections for integral XRDS is extended to a three-region model that has direct sensitivity to the (first-moment) dislocation line lengths of dislocation loops. In conclusion, these developments enable the use of both numerical and analytically modeled cross-sections to make accurate integral XRDS determinations of dislocation loop sizes and concentrations using modest-intensity laboratory X-ray sources.

42 ENGINEERING↗