Phase transformations and defect clusters in single crystal SrTiO3 irradiated at different temperatures

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2013-11, Vol.442 (1-3), p.143-147
• Main Authors: Zhuo, M.J., Yan, L., Fu, E.G., Wang, Y.Q., Misra, A., Nastasi, M., Uberuaga, B.P., Jia, Q.X.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; nuclear (including radiation effects), defects, mechanical behavior, materials and chemistry by design, synthesis (novel materials), synthesis (scalable processing); Nuclear fuels
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2013.08.046

Radiation damage mechanisms in single crystal SrTiO3 irradiated with 250keV Ne ions to a fluence of 1.11×1020ions/m2 at both room temperature and 773K were systematically investigated. The irradiation-induced microstructural evolution was characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Ion irradiation at room temperature results in amorphization of crystalline SrTiO3 near the peak damage region at this fluence. On the other hand, ion irradiation at high temperature leads to less irradiation-induced damage in SrTiO3 due to the higher recovery rate of defects. Nevertheless, the formation of dislocation loops has been observed in the SrTiO3 crystals irradiated at high temperature. These dislocation loops were determined to be unfaulted loops with Burgers vector along 〈011〉.