Microstructural features and deuterium diffusion in lithium penta-aluminate pellets under He+ and D+ ion irradiation

Jiang, Weilin; Kovarik, Libor; Wirth, Mark G.; Zhu, Zihua; Hardy, John S.; Hu, Zhihan; Shao, Lin; Casella, Andrew M.; Senor, David J.

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155865

Microstructural features and deuterium diffusion in lithium penta-aluminate pellets under He⁺ and D⁺ ion irradiation

Journal Article · Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155865· OSTI ID:2564358

^[1]; Kovarik, Libor ^[1]; Wirth, Mark G. ^[1]; Zhu, Zihua ^[1]; Hardy, John S. ^[1]; Hu, Zhihan ^[2]; Shao, Lin ^[2]; Casella, Andrew M. ^[1]; Senor, David J. ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX (United States)

Lithium (Li) penta-aluminate (LiAl₅O₈) is investigated as a potential tritium (T) breeding material, with a focus on microstructural response to ion irradiation and deuterium (D) diffusion behavior. Under high-fluence ion irradiation (2 x 10¹⁷ (He⁺+D⁺)/cm²) at 773 K, LiAl₅O₈ exhibits significant disorder on the Li sublattice, as revealed by atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, while the Al and O sublattices remain stable, demonstrating strong resistance to structural amorphization. Irradiation induces the formation of platelet-shaped antiphase boundaries (APBs), which may serve as effective D trapping sites. Atom probe tomography suggests the presence of ⁶LiD clusters in the mass spectra, though definite conclusions regarding APB composition are hindered by signal overlap and limited data statistics. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry reveals that D retention approaches to saturation at 3 x 10¹⁷ (He⁺+D⁺)/cm². Isothermal and isochronal annealing studies determine an average diffusivity of 1.6 x 10^-13 at 773 K and an effective activation energy of 0.8 ± 0.1 eV for D migration. Compared to γ-LiAlO₂, LiAl₅O₈ demonstrates superior irradiation resistance, minimal Li loss, and enhanced D retention, underscoring its potential as a durable breeder material for T production. In conclusion, these findings provide key insights into the microstructural evolution, defect dynamics, and D retention mechanisms in LiAl₅O₈ under reactor-relevant conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2564358

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--208835

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 613; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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