Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Interface enabled defects reduction in helium ion irradiated Cu/V nanolayers

Journal Article · · Journal of Nuclear Materials

Sputter-deposited Cu/V nanolayer films with individual layer thickness, h, varying from 1 to 200 nm were subjected to helium (He) ion irradiation at room temperature. At a peak dose level of 6 displacements per atom (dpa), the average helium bubble density and lattice expansion decrease significantly with decreasing h. The magnitude of radiation hardening decreases with decreasing individual layer thickness, and becomes negligible when h is 2.5 nm or less. This study indicates that nearly immiscible Cu/V interfaces spaced a few nm apart can effectively reduce the concentration of radiation induced point defects. Consequently, Cu/V nanolayers possess enhanced radiation tolerance, i.e., reduction of swelling and suppression of radiation hardening, compared to monolithic Cu or V.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC); Center for Materials at Irradiation and Mechanical Extremes (CMIME)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)
OSTI ID:
1064945
Journal Information:
Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 407; ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English