Trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies

© 2016 Elsevier LtdThe results on trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies are presented. It is shown that the addition of oxygen to the operating gas during the irradiation causes the increase of the oxide layer thickness, the amount of hydroxyl groups in it and deuterium trapping in zirconium. Accelerated transport of deuterium atoms through the oxide layer saturated by hydroxyl groups is observed. Mechanisms of trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes and the role of oxygen in these processes are discussed

Trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. The results on trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies are presented. It is shown that the addition of oxygen to the operating gas during the irradiation causes the increase of the oxide layer thickness, the amount of hydroxyl groups in it and deuterium trapping in zirconium. Accelerated transport of deuterium atoms through the oxide layer saturated by hydroxyl groups is observed. Mechanisms of trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes and the role of oxygen in these processes are discussed

Effect of irradiation by argon ions on hydrogen transport through the surface oxide layer of zirconium

Effect of zirconium irradiation by 1 keV Ar+ ions on hydrogen transport through the surface oxide layer is studied. It is shown that deuterium trapping under subsequent irradiation of the Ar-treated sample by deuterium atoms of thermal energies in D2 + 30at.% O2 gas mixture is 2 times less than trapping in the untreated sample. Besides, irradiation of the untreated sample by D-atoms provokes desorption of ≈25% of hydrogen contained therein, whereas hydrogen desorption from the ion-treated zirconium surface does not occur. It is proposed that oxygen depletion of the surface oxide layer, caused by ion bombardment, is a reason of mitigation of the hydrogen transport through this layer in both directions