Secondary phase evolution of high-entropy ceramics under heavy-ion irradiation in high-temperature coupling-induced environment

Abstract

The formation of new phases in high-entropy ceramics can be induced by both heavy-ion irradiation and annealing, meaning that these transitions can simultaneously occur under high-temperature irradiation. Consequently, the radiation resistance of high-entropy ceramics can involve complex mechanisms upon this coupled environment. In this study, the irradiation resistance of the high-entropy (ZrHfTiSn)O2 ceramic was investigated under heavy-ion irradiation at different temperatures. The results show that after irradiation, the secondary triclinic phase exists in all the ion-injected ranges. The triclinic phase can withstand irradiation, leading to dislocations that trigger a local increase in entropy and result in layered amorphization. Amorphization is accompanied by volume expansion that compresses adjacent regions, causing angular differences in the triclinic phase unit cell, and recrystallization of the amorphous region at 500 °C can release this compression. This study provides experimental data and theoretical support for further improving the radiation resistance of related materials.