Self-catalyzed Tritium Incorporation in Amorphous and Crystalline

Abstract

AbstractTritiated amorphous and crystalline silicon is prepared by exposing silicon samples to tritium gas (T2) at various pressures and temperatures. Total tritium content and tritium concentration depth profiles in the tritiated samples are obtained using thermal effusion and Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements. The results indicate that tritium incorporation is a function of the material microstructure rather than the tritium exposure condition. The highest tritium concentration attained in the amorphous silicon is about 20 at.% on average with a penetration depth of about 50 nm. In contrast, the tritium occluded in the c-Si is about 4 at.% with a penetration depth of about 10 nm. The tritium concentration observed in a-Si:H and c-Si is higher than reported results from post-hydrogenation experiments. The beta irradiation appears to catalyze the tritiation process and enhance the tritium dissolution in silicon material.