ION-INDUCED EFFECTS ON ION-DRIVEN DEUTERIUM PERMEATION THROUGH NIOBIUM MEMBRANE

The permeation behavior of deuterium has been investigated for deuteri um implanted into Nb membrane. Increase of the steady state permeation rate was observed at the simultaneous bombardment of the downstream-s ide membrane surface with argon and of the upstream-side surface with deuterium ions. An in-situ surface analysis was performed to monitor t he back surface impurity composition, by means of AES and SIMS. The ro le of possible processes, such as ion-induced desorption, production o f surface imperfection sites, and change of surface chemical compositi on, in the increase of permeation rate has been discussed. Copyright ( C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.