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Investigations of irradiation effects in crystalline and amorphous SiC

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5085216· OSTI ID:1574449
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  4. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)

The results of irradiation on 3C-silicon carbide (SiC) and amorphous SiC (a-SiC) are explored using both in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and complementary molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The single ion strikes identified in the in situ TEM irradiation experiments, utilizing a 1.7 MeV Au3+ ion beam with nanosecond resolution, are contrasted to MD simulation results of the defect cascades produced by 10–100 keV Si primary knock-on atoms (PKAs). The MD simulations also investigated defect structures that could possibly be responsible for the observed strain fields produced by single ion strikes in the TEM ion beam irradiation experiments. Both MD simulations and in situ TEM experiments show evidence of radiation damage in 3C-SiC but none in a-SiC. Selected area electron diffraction patterns, due to the results of MD simulations and in situ TEM irradiation experiments, show no evidence of structural changes in either 3C-SiC or a-SiC.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; AC52-06NA25396; AC07-05ID14517
OSTI ID:
1574449
Report Number(s):
SAND--2019-12522J; 680418
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 126; ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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