Comprehensive characterization of irradiation induced defects in ceria: Impact of point defects on vibrational and optical properties

Vinay Chauhan, Joshua Ferrigno, Saqeed Adnan, Janne Pakarinen, Lingfeng He, David Hurley, Marat Khafizov (Corresponding Author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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    Abstract

    Validation of multiscale microstructure evolution models can be improved when standard microstructure characterization tools are coupled with methods sensitive to individual point defects. We demonstrate how electronic and vibrational properties of defects revealed by optical absorption and Raman spectroscopies can be used to compliment transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) in the characterization of microstructure evolution in ceria under non-equilibrium conditions. Experimental manifestation of non-equilibrium conditions was realized by exposing cerium dioxide (CeO2) to energetic protons at elevated temperature. Two sintered polycrystalline CeO2 samples were bombarded with protons accelerated to a few MeVs. These irradiation conditions produced a microstructure with resolvable extended defects and a significant concentration of point defects. A rate theory (RT) model was parametrized using the results of TEM, XRD, and thermal conductivity measurements to infer point defect concentrations. An abundance of cerium sublattice defects suggested by the RT model is supported by Raman spectroscopy measurements, which show peak shift and broadening of the intrinsic T2g peak and emergence of new defect peaks. Additionally, spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements performed in lieu of optical absorption reveals the presence of Ce3+ ions associated with oxygen vacancies. This work lays the foundation for a coupled approach that considers a multimodal characterization of microstructures to guide and validate complex defect evolution models.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number085105
    JournalJournal of Applied Physics
    Volume132
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 25 Aug 2022
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • cerium dioxode
    • defect characterization
    • microstructure evolution
    • radiation damage

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