Control of Extreme Radiation Tolerance in Ceramics by Depth Profiling of Structure-Property Relations
V. Bessonon1, A. Shamatova1, K. Sekerbayev, A. Abdulaev1,2, V. Skuratov3,4,5, J. O'Conell6, Z. Utegulov1
1Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
2Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science, National Laboratory Astana,
Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
3Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Moscow Region, Russia
4 Dubna State University, Dubna 141980, Moscow Region, Russia
5National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow 115409, Russia
6Center for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Building 124, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand, 6031, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Abstract
Spinel (MgAl2O4) is a promising ceramic candidate material for inert matrix nuclear fuel applications [1]. To emulate the radiation damage by fission products spinel in its crystalline form was irradiated by Bi swift heavy ions (SHIs) with energy 710 MeV derived from the high energy ion accelerator. The incident ion fluence was varied over the range of 1*1010 - 6*1012 ions/cm2.
The visible wavelength (532 nm)-excited photoluminescence (PL) in irradiation with bismuth SHIs leads to the appearance of color centers characterized by wide luminescence spectral peaks. Depth profiling of PL peak intensities revealed a sharp emission enhancement at a depth of 24 μm, at which the highest radiation-induced nuclear displacement damage is expected according to SRIM profile calculations.
The depth profiling of the Brillouin light scattering spectra, displayed close correlation with depth-dependent ionization losses and unveil the presence bi-modal Brillouin spectra corresponding to two phases with different shear moduli. This Brillouin spectral behavior is confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging evidencing the existence of latent tracks in the otherwise largely pristine crystalline spinel matrix for doses up to 1*1012 ions/cm2. The change in sound speed shows a gradual increase to the values of the unirradiated sample, and correlates with the ions loss results calculated in SRIM.
This work is supported by an AP19679332 grant from Kazakhstan Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Nazarbayev University (NU) grants via Collaborative Research Program NU 11022021CRP1504 and NU 20122022FD4130.
Speaker
Vladimir Bessonov
Nazarbayev University
Kazachstan
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