Effects of xenon implantation in spinel-zirconia/ceria composites

Two prethinned spinel specimens containing either Y0.15Zr0.85O2 or Ce0.5Zr0 .5O2 particles were implanted with 200-400 keV Xe ions at 873 K using the I VEM-Tandem Facility at Argonne National Laboratory. In situ transmission el ectron microscopy (TEM) was conducted during the implantation in order to f ollow the evolution of the microstructure. At an ion fluence between 2.4x10 (20) to 3x10(20) m(-2) (up to 50 dpa and 4.7 at %), large Xe bubbles of 50- 100 nm developed at the boundaries of the small oxide particles, while a hi gh density of dislocation loops (up to 8 nm in diameter) and much smaller b ubbles (up to similar to4 nm in diameter) formed in the spinel matrix. No l arge bubbles were observed at the boundaries between the spinel grains. The se results suggest that the boundaries between spinel and oxide particles a re preferred sites for fission gas accumulation. (C) 2001 Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.