The Effects of Radiation Damage on Heteroepitaxial Interfaces
EMSL Project ID
47844
Abstract
The interaction of radiation with materials controls the performance, reliability, and safety of conventional and advanced nuclear power systems. Energetic particles produced by nuclear reactions displace atoms in surrounding materials from their lattice sites, resulting in high local temperatures and formation of vacancies and interstitials that are deleterious to important material properties. Recent research suggests that nanospaced internal interfaces are powerful sinks for vacancies and interstitials [1-3]. Revolutionary improvements in radiation tolerance may be attainable if methods can be found to manipulate interface structures at the nanoscale to tailor their properties for optimal interface stability and point defect recombination, and to serve as traps for gaseous transmutants such as helium and hydrogen [4-6]. Interfaces contain miscoordinated atoms and excess volume that can assist recombination processes. A high-density of nanoscale features will dramatically increase interface area and shorten the diffusion path for defect recombination. Although recent experiments and modeling demonstrate the efficacy of this concept [7-9], the exact roles of interface free volume and the specific type of interface are not well understood. More importantly, an accurate physical description of point defect absorption and recombination processes occurring at interfaces does not exist. We propose to perform carefully controlled experiments utilizing well-characterized model interfaces to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms governing defect absorption and recombination at interfaces.The key scientific objectives of this research are 1) to understand how interface character affects absorption and recombination of radiation-induced defects, 2) to determine the ability of interfaces to delocalize radiation-induced defects to promote recombination, and 3) to determine the stability and evolution of interfaces under irradiation to high doses.
Project Details
Start Date
2013-03-22
End Date
2013-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members
Related Publications
Shutthanandan V, S Choudhury, S Manandhar, TC Kaspar, CM Wang, A Devaraj, BD Wirth, S Thevuthasan, RG Hoagland, BP Uberuaga, and RJ Kurtz. 2017. "Radiation Tolerant Interfaces: Influence of Local Stoichiometry at the Misfit Dislocation on Radiation Damage Resistance of Metal/Oxide Interfaces." Advanced Materials Interfaces 4(14):Article No. 1700037. doi:10.1002/admi.201700037