Hydrogen depth profiling in solids: A comparison of several resonant nuclear reaction techniques

Abstract

Nuclear resonant reaction analysis (NRRA) techniques for hydrogen depth profiling in solid materials have typically used ion beams of 19F at the resonance energy of 16.44 MeV and 15N at 6.385 MeV. We report here the study of hydrogen analysis and profiles with the 1 H( 19 F, αγ) 16 O reaction at the resonance energy of 6.42 MeV and investigation of the nuclear resonant reaction 1 H( 15 N, αγ) 12 C at the resonance energy of 13.35 MeV as alternative means for hydrogen depth profiling. The results show that the method using the 6.42 MeV 19F resonance has an excellent depth probe capability and moderate resolution as well as adequate sensitivity, and the method using the 13.35 MeV 15N resonance provides a new tool with higher sensitivity and good depth resolution. The comparison of these four NRRA techniques under identical laboratory conditions is shown. Their characteristics and conditions of optimum utilization are discussed.