Ion-induced effects on ion-driven deuterium permeation through niobium membrane

Abstract

The permeation behavior of deuterium has been investigated for deuterium implanted into Nb membrane. Increase of the steady state permeation rate was observed at the simultaneous bombardment of the downstream-side membrane surface with argon and of the upstream-side surface with deuterium ions. An in-situ surface analysis was performed to monitor the back surface impurity composition, by means of AES and SIMS. The role of possible processes, such as ion-induced desorption, production of surface imperfection sites, and change of surface chemical composition, in the increase of permeation rate has been discussed.