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Ion irradiation of ternary pyrochlore oxides.

Journal Article · · Chem. Mater.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cm9003917· OSTI ID:1000696

Polycrystalline synthetic samples of Y{sub 2}Ti{sub 2-x}Sn{sub x}O{sub 7} with x = 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6, together with Nd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7}, Nd{sub 2}Zr{sub 1.2}Ti{sub 0.8}O{sub 7}, and La{sub 1.6}Y{sub 0.4}Hf{sub 2}O{sub 7}, were irradiated in situ in the intermediate voltage electron microscope (IVEM)-Tandem Facility at Argonne National Laboratory using 1.0 MeV Kr ions at temperatures of 50 to 650 K. Determination of the critical amorphization fluence (F{sub c}) as a function of temperature has revealed a dramatic increase in radiation tolerance with increasing Sn content on the pyrochlore B site. Nonlinear least-squares analysis of the fluence-temperature curves gave critical temperatures (T{sub c}) of 666 {+-} 4, 335 {+-} 12, and 251 {+-} 51 K for the Y{sub 2}Ti{sub 2-x}Sn{sub x}O{sub 7} samples with x = 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2, respectively. The sample with x = 1.6 appears to disorder to a defect fluorite structure at a fluence below 1.25 x 10{sup 15} ions cm{sup -2} and remains crystalline to 5 x 10{sup 15} ions cm{sup -2} at 50 K. Additionally, the critical fluence-temperature response curves were determined for Nd{sub 2}Zr{sub 1.2}Ti{sub 0.8}O{sub 7} and La{sub 1.6}Y{sub 0.4}Hf{sub 2}O{sub 7}, and we obtained T{sub c} values of 685 {+-} 53 K and 473 {+-} 52 K, respectively, for these pyrochlores. Nd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} did not become amorphous after a fluence of 2.5 x 10{sup 15} ions cm{sup -2} at 50 K, but there is evidence that it may amorphize at a higher fluence, with an estimated T{sub c} of 135 K. The observed T{sub c} results are discussed with respect to the predicted T{sub c} values based upon a previously published empirical model (Lumpkin, G. R.; Pruneda, M.; Rios, S.; Smith, K. L.; Trachenko, K.; Whittle, K. R.; Zaluzec, N. J. J. Solid State Chem. 2007, 180, 1512). In the Y{sub 2}Ti{sub 2-x}Sn{sub x}O{sub 7} pyrochlores, T{sub c} appears to be linear with respect to composition, and is linear with respect to r{sub A}/r{sub B} and x(48f) for all samples investigated herein.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
SC; Australian Government; Cambridge-MIT Inst.; British Nuclear Fuels, Ltd.; EPSRC Grant
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1000696
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/JA-68795
Journal Information:
Chem. Mater., Journal Name: Chem. Mater. Journal Issue: May 2009 Vol. 21; ISSN 0897-4756
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH