Effects Of Ionizing Radiation Research Articles

Effects of ion irradiation induced phase transformations and oxygen vacancies on the leakage current characteristics of HfO2 thin films deposited on GaAs

Abstract We report on the ion-induced phase transformations, defect dynamics related to oxygen vacancies and the resulting leakage current characteristics of RF sputtered HfO2 thin films grown on GaAs. A systematic growth of HfO2 grains and Ion prompted phase transformations of HfO2 to crystalline phases such as monoclinic and tetragonal/orthorhombic (mixed phase) in otherwise amorphous HfO2 thin films have been observed after irradiation. At lower fluences, Ion induced enhancement in the dielectric properties of HfO2 thin films resulted in a reduction in the leakage current, whereas ion prompted defect formation at higher fluences caused a systematic increase in the leakage current density. Further, the effects of Poole-Frenkel (PF) tunneling and Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling on the leakage current have also been investigated. These mechanisms showed the existence of impurities in the as-grown films. Photoluminescence (PL) study suggests the variation in the defect configuration related to O-vacancies and slight shift in the peak positions due to SHI irradiation are responsible for the observed changes in electrical characteristics. This study offers worthwhile information for considering the effects of electronic excitation prompted defect annealing or defect creation on the performance of HfO2/GaAs based photonic and optoelectronic devices, particularly, when such devices are operated in a radiation harsh environment.

EVALUATION OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT IN FURNITURE MANUFACTURING USING THE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS

Environmental issues in the furniture industry are of great importance due to the use of natural materials, such as wood and chemical substances like adhesives and paints. These issues encompass environmental conservation and managing the pollution and waste that is generated. This study adopted an integrated AHP-LCA decision model which helped identify several key factors as higher priorities. These factors include the bio-economic aspects, the production process, wood quality, stable supply of raw materials, technical considerations, and the recycling process. A pairwise comparison of 24 sub-criteria revealed that the quality of wood as a raw material, wood supply management and connections, the punching process, user education and trained workforce, and process design are critical criteria. Prioritizing these factors not only helps in the removal of pollutants, but also enhances the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework in the furniture industry. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results using Sima-Pro software indicated that scenario 1, which involves designing recyclable furniture, has a significant impact on water toxicity and CO2 emissions. Additionally, replacing birchwood as an imported raw material (scenario 2) can help mitigate ionizing radiation effects. Finally, using recycled wood in the furniture manufacturing processes (scenario 3) significantly affects land use and emissions.

Role of antioxidants in enhancing radioprotection: Insights from diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy studies

Introduction: With recent advancements, the usage of ionising radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology is becoming increasingly important. Since the smallest dose of ionising radiation can also cause biological effects, most commonly indirect effects, minimising this is the biggest challenge. The current review discussed the efficacy of antioxidants on neutralising free radicals formed as a result of radiation to minimise its effects on DNA. Aim: The current review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the antioxidants in reducing the biological effects caused by ionising radiation in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology. Materials and Methodology: The review included the articles published in the Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases were used. The studies reported the effectiveness of the antioxidant administration in reducing the effects of ionising radiation effects in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology. Results: The evaluation methods used in this review were biochemical evaluation, histopathological evaluation, gene expression, etc. Administration of antioxidants prior to irradiation was effective in reducing biological effects. Melatonin was found to be the most commonly used antioxidant in multiple studies. Conclusion: Administering antioxidants before irradiation effectively reduces the biological effects. Further human studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of the same.

Ionising and ultraviolet radiation induce the secretion of melanin in Tetrahymena pyriformis

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ionising and ultraviolet radiation on stimulating melanin secretion in Tetrahymena pyriformis. Cell cultures were exposed to different doses of radiation for 48, 72 and 96 h. After incubation, melanin was extracted and analysed. Our results showed that melanin concentration increased with increasing irradiation dose and exposure duration. Melanin was insoluble in water and organic solvents but soluble in alkaline and acidic solutions. A linear correlation between the logarithm of melanin absorbance and wavelength ranging from 400 to 600 nm was observed. The HPLC chromatograms of melanin degradation products by the alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation method revealed the existence of four peaks. The natural melanin standard extracted from the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis was used as a reference compound of eumelanin markers. These markers were detected in control cells, irradiated cells and black human hair but with different intensities.

AniMAIRE‐A New Openly Available Tool for Calculating Atmospheric Ionising Radiation Dose Rates and Single Event Effects During Anisotropic Conditions

AbstractAniMAIRE (Anisotropic Model for Atmospheric Ionising Radiation Effects) is a new model and Python toolkit for calculating radiation dose rates experienced by aircraft during anisotropic solar energetic particle events. AniMAIRE expands the physics of the MAIRE + model such that dose rate calculations can be performed for anisotropic solar energetic particle conditions by supplying a proton or alpha particle rigidity spectrum, a pitch angle distribution, and the conditions of Earth's magnetosphere. In this paper, we describe the algorithm and top‐level structure of AniMAIRE and showcase AniMAIRE's capabilities by analyzing the dose rate maps that AniMAIRE produces when the time‐dependent spectra and pitch angle distribution for Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) 71 are input. We find that the dose rates AniMAIRE produces for the event fall between the dose rates produced by the WASAVIES and CRAC:DOMO models. Dose rate maps that evolve throughout the event are also shown, and it is found that each peak in the input pitch angle distribution generates a dose rate hotspot in each of the polar regions. AniMAIRE has been made available openly online so that it can be downloaded and run freely on local machines and so that the space weather community can easily contribute to it using Github forking.

Radiobiological Applications of Vibrational Spectroscopy: A Review of Analyses of Ionising Radiation Effects in Biology and Medicine

Vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and Raman spectroscopy (RS), offer unique and detailed biochemical fingerprints by detecting specific molecular vibrations within samples. These techniques provide profound insights into the molecular alterations induced by ionising radiation, which are both complex and multifaceted. This paper reviews the application of rapid and label-free vibrational spectroscopic methods for assessing biological radiation responses. These assessments span from early compartmentalised models such as DNA, lipid membranes, and vesicles to comprehensive evaluations in various living biological models, including tissues, cells, and organisms of diverse origins. The review also discusses future perspectives, highlighting how the field is overcoming methodological limitations. RS and FTIR have demonstrated significant potential in detecting radiation-induced biomolecular alternations, which may facilitate the identification of radiation exposure spectral biomarkers/profiles.

Thickness dependent structural and electrical properties of pulsed laser deposited Y0.95Ca0.05MnO3 thin films and the effect of high energy oxygen ion irradiation

Thickness dependent structural and electrical properties of pulsed laser deposited Y0.95Ca0.05MnO3 thin films and the effect of high energy oxygen ion irradiation

Effect of IONIZING radiation on the stereochemical composition of dihydroquercetin sample

Introduction. Microbiological quality is one of the key criteria for active pharmaceutical ingredients. To ensure it, a set of preventive measures and various decontamination methods are used. A relatively new approach is ionizing radiation, characterized by high efficiency. However, according to the literature, during ionizing sterilization, a change in the chemical composition of the drug may occur, which requires studying the effect of the radiation factor on each individual compound. Objective. To investigate the effect of ionizing radiation on the stereoisomeric composition of the dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a natural flavananol and a promising object for the development of chiral remedies. Material and methods. The object of the study is a sample of DHQ exposed to ionizing radiation of 9.5 MeV (DHQrad), while the reference sample is a native substance of DHQ from the same manufacturer and batch (DHQref). Analysis was conducted using polarimetry and reversed-phase HPLC with diode array and mass spectrometric detection. Results. Taking into account the moisture content of the samples, the average values of the specific optical rotation for acetone solutions of DHQrad and DHQref were 20.85±1.54° and 19.65±1.93°, respectively. Chromatograms showed two peaks with retention times of 10.18±0.03 and 11.63±0.01 min, which, based on UV and mass spectra profiles, were identified as trans- and cis-diastereomers of DHQ. The total content of flavananol in the analyzed samples was 93.25±0.01% for DHQrad and 94.92±0.01% for DHQref, with the amount of the cis-isomer being 0.59±0.13% and 1.27±0.70%, respectively. Conclusion. The study did not establish a significant effect of ionizing radiation on the specific optical rotation value and the stereoisomeric composition of the DHQ substance. The findings support the recommendation of this sterilization method for remedies containing the studied flavananol.

Delayed fragmentation of isolated nucleobases induced by MeV ions.

We evaluated the dissociation of isolated gas-phase nucleobase molecules induced by mega electron volt (MeV)-energy ions to gain fundamental insights into the reactions of nucleobases upon fast ion irradiation. We studied five nucleobase molecules-adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil-as gas-phase targets. We compared the fragmentation patterns obtained from carbon ion impacts with those obtained from proton impacts to clarify the effect of heavy ion irradiation. We also compared the results with electron impact and photoionization results. In addition, we identified several delayed fragmentation pathways by analyzing the correlation between fragment pairs generated from singly and doubly charged intermediate ions. To determine the lifetimes of delayed fragmentation from singly charged intermediate ions, we evaluated the detection efficiencies of the microchannel plate detector for the neutral fragment HCN as a function of kinetic energy using a new methodology. As the first demonstration of this method, we estimated the lifetimes of C5H5N5+ generated by 1.2-MeV C+ and 0.5-MeV H+ collisions to be 0.87 ± 0.43 and 0.67 ± 0.09 µs, respectively. These lifetimes were approximately one order of magnitude longer than those of the doubly charged intermediate ion C5H5N52+.

5 MeV Si ion irradiation effects on structural and morphological properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Carbon based nanomaterials (CBNs) such as multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene etc have attracted huge interest due to their widespread applications in contemporary nanotechnology. The ion bombardment is an important method which can be used for tuning of the structural and morphological properties of the CBNs. In the present work, we have carried out ion irradiation on MWCNTs (prepared by chemical vapour deposition method) with 5 MeV Si ions at different fluences ranging from 1 × 1014 to 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. The resulting structural and morphological modifications on the pristine MWCNTs have been characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Results observed after successful characterization are compared with pristine sample results and we observed that the irradiation creates defects in MWCNTs and causes amorphized carbon nanomaterials depending on the fluence and energy deposited by energetic ions inside the MWCNTs.

Effect of Au ion irradiation on microstructure, mechanical, and lead‐bismuth eutectic corrosion properties of Cr/ZrO2 coatings

AbstractThe effect of ion irradiation on the microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion properties of Cr/ZrO2 coating was investigated. The monoclinic to tetragonal phase transition is observed under heavy ion irradiation, and the tetragonal phase is stabilized by the irradiation‐induced defect clusters. With increasing irradiation fluence, grain growth, and irradiation‐induced hardening effects are observed. After lead‐bismuth eutectic (LBE) corrosion at 650°C for 1000 h, the irradiated coatings can still maintain structural integrity and protect the substrate from lead/bismuth corrosion. However, in contrast to the unirradiated coating, the irradiation‐induced defects provide a channel for the rapid inward diffusion of oxygen atoms from the LBE, leading to the formation of a thicker Cr‐rich oxide layer beneath the ZrO2 coating. This study also provides insight into how irradiation‐induced microstructural changes affect zirconia's properties as a corrosion protection layer.

Effect of ion irradiation on superconducting thin films

We demonstrate ion irradiation by argon or gallium as a wafer-scale post-processing method to increase disorder in superconducting thin films. We study several widely used superconductors, both single-elements and compounds. We show that ion irradiation increases normal-state resistivity in all our films, which is expected to enable tuning their superconducting properties, for example, toward a higher kinetic inductance. We observe an increase in superconducting transition temperature for Al and MoSi and a decrease for Nb, NbN, and TiN. In MoSi, ion irradiation also improves the mixing of the two materials. We demonstrate the fabrication of an amorphous and homogeneous film of MoSi with uniform thickness, which is promising, for example, for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors.

Investigation of structural and optical properties of ZnTiO3 thin films irradiated with 50 MeV oxygen ions

This paper aims to investigate the effects of high-energy ion irradiation on the structural, morphological, optical, and luminescent characteristics of ZnTiO3 (ZTO) films. ZTO films were grown on silicon and quartz substrates via RF magnetron sputtering in pure argon ambiance and annealed at 800 °C for crystallization. The annealed (pristine) samples were irradiated with 50 MeV oxygen ions at three distinct fluences: 1 × 1012, 5 × 1012, and 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data demonstrates that the intensity of highly oriented (311) peak first increases with fluence up to 5 × 1012 and then decreases at 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. The root mean square roughness (RMS) increases initially from 8.22 (pristine) to 9.10 nm (1 × 1012 ions/cm2) and decreases to 8.25 nm for 1 × 1013 ions/cm2 fluence. Transmittance spectra indicate an enhancement in the transmission of irradiated films. The calculated band gap of pristine and irradiated films lies in the range of 3.93–3.84 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals a reduction in oxygen vacancies up to a fluence of 5 × 1012 and then rises at 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. The enhancement of peak intensity is observed in photoluminescence (PL) spectra on increasing the ion fluence due to a reduction in the non-radiative recombination centers.

Guest Editorial: Special Issue on Spin Pumping and Spin-Orbit Torques in Magnetic Heterostructures

Spin pumping and spin-orbit torques play important roles in advancing spintronic device technologies. Our curated special issue focuses on these phenomena in magnetic heterostructures, which are critical for various applications. The high-quality papers 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 delve into spin pumping and spin-orbit torques in diverse heterostructures, addressing topics such as insulating/metallic interfaces tailoring spin-to-charge conversion, the influence of HfOx capping layers on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, anisotropy-controlled spin current generation, sputter pressure-dependent spin Hall angle, the effect of oxygen ion irradiation on spin-orbit torques, and a review paper of emerging two-dimensional/ferromagnetic interfaces. This Editorial discusses the reported articles and the future perspective of these topics. With this special issue, we anticipate significant contributions to both academic research and industrial developments in this direction.

Ionizing radiation effect on the removing of antibiotic pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater: identification of radio-degradation products

Ionizing radiation effect on the removing of antibiotic pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater: identification of radio-degradation products

Effect of Fe addition and ion irradiation on surface hardness in zirconium alloys: Experiments and modeling

Exploring the effect of Fe addition and ion irradiation on surface hardness in Zr alloys not only elucidates the strengthening mechanisms of individual alloying elements but also facilitates the assessment of mechanical properties under varying damage levels. In this work, the microstructural variations and surface hardness of Zr and Zr-Fe alloys were examined through Ne+ and Au3+ irradiation experiments. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization suggested the potential of Fe addition in Zr-Fe alloys for grain refinement. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observations indicated the formation of dislocation loops in irradiated materials, accompanied by a transformation of Zr3Fe particles from a crystalline to an amorphous state. Furthermore, nano-indentation tests were employed to measure the depth-dependent hardness, revealing an augmentation in hardness with increasing Fe content and highlighting noticeable irradiation hardening in Zr alloys. A mechanical model was then developed to theoretically investigate the contribution of diverse hardening mechanisms in ion-irradiated Zr alloys, particularly addressing the impact of non-uniformly distributed defects. Theoretical analysis denoted that the irradiation-induced defects hardening at varying depths follows distinct laws, whereas the precipitation hardening in Zr-Fe alloys was attributed to high-density strengthening particles induced by Fe addition. Moreover, it was determined that the surface hardness is governed by geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) and irradiation-induced defects at shallow depths, whereas precipitates and statistically stored dislocations (SSDs) dominate at relatively larger depths.

The Influence of the Structural Parameters of Nanoporous Alumina Matrices on Optical Properties

In this work, two types of nanoporous alumina membranes were prepared and tested. Structural features of the samples obtained by using different acids were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And further SEM-images were analyzed by different types of fractal dimension estimation methods. The transmission and scattering of accelerated He+ ions were studied in experiments on the ion irradiation of dielectric channels based on porous alumina. An ion accelerator was used as a source of the He+ beam with an energy of 1.7 MeV. Ion scattering was studied by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Helium transition through nanoporous alumina at various angles between the normal to the sample and the beam direction were observed. It is shown that the porous structure of anodic aluminum oxide is excellent as a dielectric matrix of nanocapillaries. Owing to the small angle scattering, it allows for the transportation of the accelerated charged particles through the dielectric capillaries, and, as a result, the localization of high energy ion irradiation effects. Additionally, according to the transmission of UV–V is spectra, the energy gaps of samples obtained were calculated.

Investigating ion irradiation effects for modifying optical properties of CA/PANI films

In this study, flexible CA/PANI films, consisting of polyaniline (PANI) and cellulose acetate (CA), were created via a solution cast production process. Then, these films were irradiated using of handmade cold cathode ion device with argon fluence of 2x1017, 4x1017, and 6x1017 ions/cm2. The SRIM program was used to investigate the ion penetration depth, ion distribution in the composite and the energy stopping loss. Moreover, the FTIR technique was used to identify the changes of the treated CA/PANI. The UV-Vis technique was used to show the impact of argon beam on the optical characteristics of CA/PANI composite film. The oscillation energy (E0) dropped from 8.88 for CA/PANI to 7.83, 6.42, and 5.19 eV after exposed to 2x1017, 4x1017, and 6x1017 ions/cm2. The results showed that the ion altered the optical characteristics of the CA/PANI samples, which allow for applied these irradiated CA/PANI films in optoelectronic devices.

Effect of high-energy Ne ions irradiation on mechanical properties difference between Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 metallic glass and crystalline W

In this paper, high-energy Ne ions were used to irradiate Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 metallic glass (MG) and crystalline W to investigate their difference in mechanical response after irradiation. The results showed that with the irradiation dose increased, the tensile micro-strain increased, nano-hardness increased from 7.11 GPa to 7.90 GPa and 8.62 GPa, Young’s modulus increased, and H 3/E 2 increased which indicating that the plastic deformability decreased in crystalline W. Under the same irradiation conditions, the Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 MG still maintained the amorphous structure and became more disordered despite the longer range and stronger displacement damage of Ne ions in Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 MG than in crystalline W. Unlike the irradiation hardening and embrittlement behavior of crystalline W, Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 MG showed the gradual decrease in hardness from 6.02 GPa to 5.89 GPa and 5.50 GPa, the decrease in modulus and the increase in plastic deformability with the increasing dose. Possibly, the irradiation softening and toughening phenomenon of Zr63.5Cu23Al9Fe4.5 MG could provide new ideas for the design of nuclear materials.

Effect of Heavy Ion Irradiation on Friction of GNSs: Implications for Aerospace Lubrication

Effect of Heavy Ion Irradiation on Friction of GNSs: Implications for Aerospace Lubrication