Gas-induced swelling of beryllium implanted with deuterium ions

Abstract

An extensive TEM study of the microstructure of Be TIP-30 irradiated with 3 and 10 keV D ions up to fluences, Φ, in the range from 3 × 10 20 to 8 × 10 21 D/m 2 at temperatures, T irr = 300, 500 and 700 K has been carried out. Depth distributions of deuterium in a form of separate D atoms and D 2 molecules have been investigated by means of SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) and RGA (residual gas analysis) methods, correspondingly. D ion implantation is accompanied by blistering and gives rise to processes of gas-induced cavitation which are very sensitive to the irradiation temperature. At T irr = 300 K tiny gas bubbles (about 1 nm in size) pressurized with molecular deuterium are developed with parameters resembling those of helium bubbles in Be. Irradiation at T irr ≥ 500 K leads to the appearance of coarse deuterium-filled cavities which can form in sub-surface layers different kinds of oblate labyrinth structures. Questions of reemission, thermal desorption and trapping of deuterium in Be have been discussed.