1. The ion irradiation tolerance of the fluorite RE2MO5 (RE = Sm, and Yb, M = Ti, Zr, and Sn) system.
- Author
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Aughterson, Robert D., Newman, Robin, Ionescu, Mihail, and Lumpkin, Gregory R.
- Subjects
FLUORITE ,SAMARIUM ,TRANSMISSION electron microscopy ,YTTERBIUM ,GRAZING incidence ,TIN ,IRRADIATION - Abstract
In the search for novel ceramics for use within nuclear fuel–related applications and nuclear waste-form matrices, a major focus has been on the development of radiation-tolerant materials. Of particular interest in this field have been numerous compounds with either pyrochlore or the related fluorite-type structures. In this study, we look to expand the family of compounds with defect fluorite–type structure. We have fabricated three new compounds; Yb
2 Sn1.125 O5.25 , Yb2 Sn1.25 O5.5 , and Yb2 Sn1.375 O5.75 . The compound Yb2 Sn1.125 O5.25 was determined, via x-ray diffraction, to have the long-range defect fluorite structure, Fm-3 m symmetry, with cell parameter a = 5.17233(1). Further to this, Sm2 ZrO5 and Yb2 TiO5 compounds were also fabricated and crystal structures characterised. The use of transmission electron microscopy has revealed a much more complex crystal structure than that of the relatively high symmetry fluorite, with the presence of structural modulations being detected. The ion-irradiation response of these compounds was tested via bulk specimen irradiation using 15-MeV gold ions with grazing incidence x-ray diffraction characterisation. The results show that both Sm2 ZrO5 and Yb2 Sn1.25 O5.5 are highly tolerant to ion-irradiation exposure whilst Yb2 TiO5 is susceptible to amorphisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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