Superior radiation tolerant materials: Amorphous silicon oxycarbide

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWe studied the radiation tolerance of amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) alloys by combining ion irradiation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The amorphous SiOC alloys thin films were grown via co-sputtering from SiO 2 and SiC (amorphous phase) targets either on a surface oxidized Si (100) substrate or on a sodium chloride substrate. By controlling the sputtering rate of each target, SiOC alloys with different compositions (1:2, 1:1, 2:1 ratios) were obtained. These alloys were irradiated by 100 keV He + ions at both room temperature and 600°C with damage levels ranging from 1 to 20 displacements per atom (dpa). TEM characterization shows no sign of crystallization, void formation or segregation in all irradiated samples. Our findings suggest that SiOC alloys are a class of promising radiation-tolerant materials.

Temperature-dependent ion-beam mixing in amorphous SiOC/crystalline Fe composite

“…Studies have shown that SiOC alloys remain amorphous after both He and Kr irradiation at temperature ranges from room temperature to 600°C with damage levels up to 20 displacements per atom (dpa). [20][21][22] These findings suggest irradiation-induced damage in this material, over a wide envelope of irradiation conditions, anneals out as fast as it is created.…”

Dose dependence of radiation damage in nano-structured amorphous SiOC/crystalline Fe composite

“…Previous studies have shown that SiOC alloys remain amorphous after both room temperature (RT) and 600°C irradiation with damage levels up to 20 displacement per atom (dpa). [11,12] To step toward applications, an amorphous SiOC/crystalline Fe composite has been developed. α-Fe was as a model material for steel.…”

Irradiation tolerance of amorphous SiOC/crystalline Fe composite

“…The selection of SiOC considers its higher thermal and radiation stabilities. In a previous study, we reported that amorphous SiOC is a new class of superior radiation tolerant materials [11]. It has been demonstrated that SiOC thin films are extremely stable, remaining amorphous even after irradiation up to 18 dpa at room temperature and up to 20 dpa at 600 1C.…”