Formation of nanosized hills on Ti3SiC2 oxide layer irradiated with swift heavy ions

The Ti3SiC2 refractory compound that combines properties of both metals and ceramics is a fuel cladding candidate under investigation for Gas-cooled Fast Reactor. Its behavior under swift heavy ion irradiation (Xe ions, 92MeV, 1019m-2) was investigated. Significant and unexpected surface changes hav...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 2012-01, Vol.270 (1), p.36-43
Main Authors: Nappé, J.C., Monnet, I., Audubert, F., Grosseau, Ph, Beauvy, M., Benabdesselam, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical and Process Engineering
Electronics
Engineering Sciences
Irradiation
Nanostructure
Nuclear reactor components
Oxides
Refractory compounds
Stems
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
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Summary:The Ti3SiC2 refractory compound that combines properties of both metals and ceramics is a fuel cladding candidate under investigation for Gas-cooled Fast Reactor. Its behavior under swift heavy ion irradiation (Xe ions, 92MeV, 1019m-2) was investigated. Significant and unexpected surface changes have been highlighted: hills have been observed by AFM on the surface of Ti3SiC2. Such a topographic modification has never been observed in other materials irradiated in similar conditions. The characterization of these hills by both XPS and X-TEM has highlighted that the surface modifications do not appear in Ti3SiC2 but in the amorphous oxide layer located on the sample surface before irradiation. Moreover, the thickness of this oxide layer grew under irradiation dose. The comparison with previous irradiations has led to the conclusion that this surface modification stems from electronic interactions in this amorphous layer, and that there is a threshold in the electronic stopping power to overcome to form hills.
ISSN:0168-583X
DOI:10.1016/j.nimb.2011.09.027