Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.1
1.4
Journals
QuBS
Special Issues
The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic...
share announcement

The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams

A special issue of Quantum Beam Science (ISSN 2412-382X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 61004

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Akihiro Iwase

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center, Tsuruga 914-0192, Fukui, Japan
Interests: modification of materials by using energetic ion/electron beam; analysis of materials by using ion beam and synchrotron radiation X-ray; radiation damage of materials related to nuclear power plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

When materials are irradiated with energetic charged particles (ions /electrons), their energies are transferred to electrons and atoms in materials and the lattice structures of the materials are largely changed to metastable or non-thermal-equilibrium states, causing modifications of several physical properties. Such phenomena will engage the interest of researchers as a basic science, and can also be used as tools for adding new functionalities to existing materials and for the developments of novel materials. A lot of studies and their industrial applications to the modification of organic materials such as polymers by using charged particle (especially energetic electron) irradiation have, however, been performed so far. The present Special issue of Quantum Beam Science will, therefore, focus on all kinds of experimental and theoretical investigation and computer simulation related to the modification of various physical properties (mechanical, electronic, magnetic, optical and so on) of metallic and inorganic materials. The developments of new accelerator and ion/electron beam systems for the materials modification are included in the scope of this Special Issue. Material modifications using exotic ion/electron beams (swift heavy ions, cluster beam, micro beam, radio isotope(RI) beam, and so on) are also welcome. This Special Issue will collect original and review papers using energetic ion/electron beams in basic and applied research for new and novel metallic and inorganic materials modifications.

Dr. Akihiro Iwase
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Quantum Beam Science is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Basic experimental and theoretical researches and computer simulations of interactions of electrons/ions with metallic and inorganic materials
  • Mechanical property modification
  • Electronic property modification
  • Magnetic property modification
  • Optical property modification
  • Nano-structure synthesis by energetic ions/electrons
  • Materials processing with swift heavy ions, cluster beams, micro beams and RI beams
  • Development of new accelerator and ion/electron beam systems for the materials modification
  • Ion/electron irradiation effects on materials for space developments and nuclear power plants

Published Papers (20 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 162 KiB  
Editorial
Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Ion/Electron Beams
by Akihiro Iwase
Quantum Beam Sci. 2022, 6(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs6010001 - 29 Dec 2021
Viewed by 1615
Abstract
Welcome to the Special Issue of Quantum Beam Science entitled “Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Ion/Electron Beams” [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 3872 KiB  
Article
Nanopore Formation in CeO2 Single Crystal by Ion Irradiation: A Molecular Dynamics Study
by Yasushi Sasajima, Ryuichi Kaminaga, Norito Ishikawa and Akihiro Iwase
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(4), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5040032 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2360
Abstract
The nanopore formation process that occurs by supplying a thermal spike to single crystal CeO2 has been simulated using a molecular dynamics method. As the initial condition, high thermal energy was supplied to the atoms in a nano-cylinder placed at the center [...] Read more.
The nanopore formation process that occurs by supplying a thermal spike to single crystal CeO2 has been simulated using a molecular dynamics method. As the initial condition, high thermal energy was supplied to the atoms in a nano-cylinder placed at the center of a fluorite structure. A nanopore was generated abruptly at around 0.3 ps after the irradiation, grew to its maximum size at 0.5 ps, shrank during the time to 1.0 ps, and finally equilibrated. The nanopore size increased with increasing effective stopping power gSe (i.e., the thermal energy deposited per unit length in the specimen), but it became saturated when gSe was 0.8 keV/nm or more. This finding will provide useful information for precise control of the size of nanopores. Our simulation confirmed nanopore formation found in the actual experiment, irradiation of CeO2 with swift heavy ions, but could not reproduce crystalline hillock formation just above the nanopores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1757 KiB  
Article
Modification of SiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3 and TiN Films by Electronic Excitation under High Energy Ion Impact
by Noriaki Matsunami, Masao Sataka, Satoru Okayasu and Bun Tsuchiya
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(4), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5040030 - 27 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2660
Abstract
It has been known that the modification of non-metallic solid materials (oxides, nitrides, etc.), e.g., the formation of tracks, sputtering representing atomic displacement near the surface and lattice disordering are induced by electronic excitation under high-energy ion impact. We have investigated lattice disordering [...] Read more.
It has been known that the modification of non-metallic solid materials (oxides, nitrides, etc.), e.g., the formation of tracks, sputtering representing atomic displacement near the surface and lattice disordering are induced by electronic excitation under high-energy ion impact. We have investigated lattice disordering by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) of SiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3 and TiN films and have also measured the sputtering yields of TiN for a comparison of lattice disordering with sputtering. We find that both the degradation of the XRD intensity per unit ion fluence and the sputtering yields follow the power-law of the electronic stopping power and that these exponents are larger than unity. The exponents for the XRD degradation and sputtering are found to be comparable. These results imply that similar mechanisms are responsible for the lattice disordering and electronic sputtering. A mechanism of electron–lattice coupling, i.e., the energy transfer from the electronic system into the lattice, is discussed based on a crude estimation of atomic displacement due to Coulomb repulsion during the short neutralization time (~fs) in the ionized region. The bandgap scheme or exciton model is examined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2568 KiB  
Article
Effect of Irradiation on Corrosion Behavior of 316L Steel in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic with Different Oxygen Concentrations
by Nariaki Okubo, Yuki Fujimura and Masakatsu Tomobe
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5030027 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3121
Abstract
In an accelerator-driven system (ADS), the beam window material of the spallation neutron target is heavily irradiated under severe conditions, in which the radiation damage and corrosion co-occur because of high-energy neutron and/or proton irradiation in the lead–bismuth flow. The materials used in [...] Read more.
In an accelerator-driven system (ADS), the beam window material of the spallation neutron target is heavily irradiated under severe conditions, in which the radiation damage and corrosion co-occur because of high-energy neutron and/or proton irradiation in the lead–bismuth flow. The materials used in ADSs must be compatible with the liquid metal (lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE)) to prevent issues such as liquid metal embrittlement (LME) and liquid metal corrosion (LMC). This study considers the LMC behavior after ion irradiation of 316L austenitic steel for self-ion irradiations followed by the corrosion tests in LBE with critical oxygen concentration. The 316L samples were irradiated by 10.5 MeV-Fe3+ ions at a temperature of 450 °C, up to 50 displacements per atom (dpa). After the corrosion test performed at 450 °C in LBE with low oxygen concentration, a surface of the nonirradiated area was not oxidized but appeared with locally corrosive morphology, Ni depletion, whereas an iron/chromium oxide layer fully covered the irradiated area. In the case of the corrosion surface with high oxygen concentration in LBE, the surface of the nonirradiated area was covered by an iron oxide layer only, whereas the irradiated area was covered by the duplex layers comprising iron and iron/chromium oxides. It is suggested that irradiation can enhance the oxide layer formation because of the enhancement of Fe and/or oxygen diffusion induced by the radiation defects in 316L steel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 6297 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Size- and Shape-Controlled Platinum Cones by Ion-Track Etching and Electrodeposition Techniques for Electrocatalytic Applications
by Yuma Sato, Hiroshi Koshikawa, Shunya Yamamoto, Masaki Sugimoto, Shin-ichi Sawada and Tetsuya Yamaki
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5030021 - 01 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3002
Abstract
The micro/nanocone structures of noble metals play a critical role as heterogeneous electrocatalysts that provide excellent activity. We successfully fabricated platinum cones by electrodeposition using non-penetrated porous membranes as templates. This method involved the preparation of template membranes by the swift-heavy-ion irradiation of [...] Read more.
The micro/nanocone structures of noble metals play a critical role as heterogeneous electrocatalysts that provide excellent activity. We successfully fabricated platinum cones by electrodeposition using non-penetrated porous membranes as templates. This method involved the preparation of template membranes by the swift-heavy-ion irradiation of commercially available polycarbonate films and subsequent chemical etching in an aqueous NaOH solution. The surface diameter, depth, aspect ratio and cone angle of the resulting conical pores were controlled in the ranges of approximately 70–1500 nm, 0.7–11 μm, 4–12 and 5–13°, respectively, by varying the etching conditions, which finally produced size- and shape-controlled platinum cones with nanotips. In order to demonstrate the electrocatalytic activity, electrochemical measurements were performed for the ethanol oxidation reaction. The oxidation activity was found to be up to 3.2 times higher for the platinum cone arrays than for the platinum plate. Ion-track etching combined with electrodeposition has the potential to be an effective method for the fabrication of micro/nanocones with high electrocatalytic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2223 KiB  
Article
Phase Transformation by 100 keV Electron Irradiation in Partially Stabilized Zirconia
by Yasuki Okuno and Nariaki Okubo
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5030020 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) is considered for use as an oxygen-sensor material in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloys in the radiation environment of an acceleration-driven system (ADS). To predict its lifetime for operating in an ADS, the effects of radiation on the PSZ [...] Read more.
Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) is considered for use as an oxygen-sensor material in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) alloys in the radiation environment of an acceleration-driven system (ADS). To predict its lifetime for operating in an ADS, the effects of radiation on the PSZ were clarified in this study. A tetragonal PSZ was irradiated with 100 keV electrons and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the phase transition in the PSZ, from the tetragonal to the monoclinic phase, was caused after the irradiation. The deposition energy of the lattice and the deposition energy for the displacement damage of a 100 keV electron in the PSZ are estimated using the particle and heavy ion transport code system and the non-ionizing energy loss, respectively. The results suggest that conventional radiation effects, such as stopping power, are not the main mechanism behind the phase transition. The phase transition is known to be caused by the low-temperature degradation of the PSZ and is attributed to the shift of oxygen ions to oxygen sites. When the electron beam is incident to the material, the kinetic energy deposition and excitation-related processes are caused, and it is suggested to be a factor of the phase transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Effect of 1.5 MeV Proton Irradiation on Superconductivity in FeSe0.5Te0.5 Thin Films
by Toshinori Ozaki, Takuya Kashihara, Itsuhiro Kakeya and Ryoya Ishigami
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020018 - 04 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3048
Abstract
Raising the critical current density Jc in magnetic fields is crucial to applications such as rotation machines, generators for wind turbines and magnet use in medical imaging machines. The increase in Jc has been achieved by introducing structural defects including precipitates [...] Read more.
Raising the critical current density Jc in magnetic fields is crucial to applications such as rotation machines, generators for wind turbines and magnet use in medical imaging machines. The increase in Jc has been achieved by introducing structural defects including precipitates and vacancies. Recently, a low-energy ion irradiation has been revisited as a practically feasible approach to create nanoscale defects, resulting in an increase in Jc in magnetic fields. In this paper, we report the effect of proton irradiation with 1.5 MeV on superconducting properties of iron–chalcogenide FeSe0.5Te0.5 films through the transport and magnetization measurements. The 1.5 MeV proton irradiation with 1 × 1016 p/cm2 yields the highest Jc increase, approximately 30% at 5–10 K and below 1 T without any reduction in Tc. These results indicate that 1.5 MeV proton irradiations could be a practical tool to enhance the performance of iron-based superconducting tapes under magnetic fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 6571 KiB  
Article
Effects of Beam Conditions in Ground Irradiation Tests on Degradation of Photovoltaic Characteristics of Space Solar Cells
by Mitsuru Imaizumi, Takeshi Ohshima, Yosuke Yuri, Kohtaku Suzuki and Yoshifumi Ito
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020015 - 20 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3660
Abstract
We investigated the effects of irradiation beam conditions on the performance degradation of silicon and triple-junction solar cells for use in space. The fluence rates of electron and proton beams were varied. Degradation did not depend on the fluence rate of protons for [...] Read more.
We investigated the effects of irradiation beam conditions on the performance degradation of silicon and triple-junction solar cells for use in space. The fluence rates of electron and proton beams were varied. Degradation did not depend on the fluence rate of protons for both cells. A higher fluence rate of electrons caused greater degradation of the Si cell, but the dependence was due to the temperature increase during irradiation. Two beam-area expansion methods, defocusing and scanning, were examined for proton irradiation of various energies (50 keV–10 MeV). In comparing the output degradation from irradiation with defocused and scanned proton beams, no significant difference in degradation was found for any proton energy. We plan to reflect these findings into ISO standard of irradiation test method of space solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3987 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Two-Dimensional Images for Ion-Irradiation Induced Change in Lattice Structures and Magnetic States in Oxides by Using Monte Carlo Method
by Akihiro Iwase and Shigeru Nishio
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020013 - 13 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2101
Abstract
A Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the two-dimensional images of ion-irradiation-induced change in lattice structures and magnetic states in oxides. Under the assumption that the lattice structures and the magnetic states are modified only inside the narrow one-dimensional region along the [...] Read more.
A Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the two-dimensional images of ion-irradiation-induced change in lattice structures and magnetic states in oxides. Under the assumption that the lattice structures and the magnetic states are modified only inside the narrow one-dimensional region along the ion beam path (the ion track), and that such modifications are affected by ion track overlapping, the exposure of oxide targets to spatially random ion impacts was simulated by the Monte Carlo method. Through the Monte Carlo method, the evolutions of the two-dimensional images for the amorphization of TiO2, the lattice structure transformation of ZrO2, and the transition of magnetic states of CeO2 were simulated as a function of ion fluence. The total fractions of the modified areas were calculated from the two-dimensional images. They agree well with the experimental results and those estimated by using the Poisson distribution functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 7104 KiB  
Article
Desorption of Implanted Deuterium in Heavy Ion-Irradiated Zry-2
by Hideo Watanabe, Yoshiki Saita, Katsuhito Takahashi and Kazufumi Yasunaga
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020009 - 26 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2216
Abstract
To understand the degradation behavior of light water reactor (LWR) fuel-cladding tubes under neutron irradiation, a detailed mechanism of hydrogen pickup related to the point defect formation (i.e., a-component and c-component dislocation loops) and to the dissolution of precipitates must be elucidated. In [...] Read more.
To understand the degradation behavior of light water reactor (LWR) fuel-cladding tubes under neutron irradiation, a detailed mechanism of hydrogen pickup related to the point defect formation (i.e., a-component and c-component dislocation loops) and to the dissolution of precipitates must be elucidated. In this study, 3.2 MeV Ni3+ ion irradiation was conducted on Zircaloy-2 samples at room temperature. Thermal desorption spectroscopy is used to evaluate the deuterium desorption with and without Ni3+ ion irradiation. A conventional transmission electron microscope and a spherical aberration-corrected high-resolution analytical electron microscope are used to observe the microstructure. The experimental results indicate that radiation-induced dislocation loops and hydrides form in Zircaloy-2 and act as major trapping sites at lower (400–600 °C) and higher (700–900 °C)-temperature regions, respectively. These results show that the detailed microstructural changes related to the hydrogen pickup at the defect sinks formed by irradiation are necessary for the degradation of LWR fuel-cladding tubes during operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 651 KiB  
Article
Chromatic Change in Copper Oxide Layers Irradiated with Low Energy Ions
by Takuya Kobayashi, Fumitaka Nishiyama and Katsumi Takahiro
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5010007 - 10 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2271
Abstract
The color of a thin copper oxide layer formed on a copper plate was transformed from reddish-brown into dark blue-purple by irradiation with 5 keV Ar+ ions to a fluence as low as 1 × 1015 Ar+ cm−2. [...] Read more.
The color of a thin copper oxide layer formed on a copper plate was transformed from reddish-brown into dark blue-purple by irradiation with 5 keV Ar+ ions to a fluence as low as 1 × 1015 Ar+ cm−2. In the unirradiated copper oxide layer, the copper valence state of Cu2+ and Cu+ and/or Cu0 was included as indicated by the presence of a shake-up satellite line in a photoemission spectrum. While for the irradiated one, the satellite line decreased in intensity, indicating that irradiation resulted in the reduction from Cu2+ to Cu+ and/or Cu0. Furthermore, nuclear reaction analysis using a 16O(d, p)17O reaction with 0.85 MeV deuterons revealed a significant loss of oxygen (5 × 1015 O atoms cm−2) in the irradiated layer. Thus, the chromatic change observed in the present work originated in the irradiation-induced reduction of a copper oxide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

7 pages, 3274 KiB  
Article
Development of Pulsed TEM Equipped with Nitride Semiconductor Photocathode for High-Speed Observation and Material Nanofabrication
by Hidehiro Yasuda, Tomohiro Nishitani, Shuhei Ichikawa, Shuhei Hatanaka, Yoshio Honda and Hiroshi Amano
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5010005 - 01 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2768
Abstract
The development of pulsed electron sources is applied to electron microscopes or electron beam lithography and is effective in expanding the functions of such devices. The laser photocathode can generate short pulsed electrons with high emittance, and the emittance can be increased by [...] Read more.
The development of pulsed electron sources is applied to electron microscopes or electron beam lithography and is effective in expanding the functions of such devices. The laser photocathode can generate short pulsed electrons with high emittance, and the emittance can be increased by changing the cathode substrate from a metal to compound semiconductor. Among the substrates, nitride-based semiconductors with a negative electron affinity (NEA) have good advantages in terms of vacuum environment and cathode lifetime. In the present study, we report the development of a photocathode electron gun that utilizes photoelectron emission from a NEA-InGaN substrate by pulsed laser excitation, and the purpose is to apply it to material nanofabrication and high-speed observation using a pulsed transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1793 KiB  
Article
Irradiation Hardening Behavior of He-Irradiated V–Cr–Ti Alloys with Low Ti Addition
by Ken-ichi Fukumoto, Yoshiki Kitamura, Shuichiro Miura, Kouji Fujita, Ryoya Ishigami and Takuya Nagasaka
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5010001 - 31 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2525
Abstract
A set of V–(4–8)Cr–(0–4)Ti alloys was fabricated to survey an optimum composition to reduce the radioactivity of V–Cr–Ti alloys. These alloys were subjected to nano-indenter tests before and after 2-MeV He-ion irradiation at 500 °C and 700 °C with 0.5 dpa at peak [...] Read more.
A set of V–(4–8)Cr–(0–4)Ti alloys was fabricated to survey an optimum composition to reduce the radioactivity of V–Cr–Ti alloys. These alloys were subjected to nano-indenter tests before and after 2-MeV He-ion irradiation at 500 °C and 700 °C with 0.5 dpa at peak damage to investigate the effect of Cr and Ti addition and gas impurities for irradiation hardening behavior in V–Cr–Ti alloys. Cr and Ti addition to V–Cr–Ti alloys for solid–solution hardening remains small in the unirradiated V–(4–8)Cr–(0–4)Ti alloys. Irradiation hardening occurred for all V–Cr–Ti alloys. The V–4Cr–1Ti alloy shows the highest irradiation hardening among all V–Cr–Ti alloys and the gas impurity was enhanced to increase the irradiation hardening. These results may arise from the formation of Ti(CON) precipitate that was produced by He-ion irradiation. Irradiation hardening of V–Cr–1Ti did not depend significantly on Cr addition. Consequently, for irradiation hardening and void-swelling suppression, the optimum composition of V–Cr–Ti alloys for structural materials of fusion reactor engineering is proposed to be a highly purified V–(6–8)Cr–2Ti alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5505 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Understanding of Hillocks and Ion Tracks in Ceramics Irradiated with Swift Heavy Ions
by Norito Ishikawa, Tomitsugu Taguchi and Hiroaki Ogawa
Quantum Beam Sci. 2020, 4(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs4040043 - 09 Dec 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3139
Abstract
Amorphizable ceramics (LiNbO3, ZrSiO4, and Gd3Ga5O12) were irradiated with 200 MeV Au ions at an oblique incidence angle, and the as-irradiated samples were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion tracks in amorphizable [...] Read more.
Amorphizable ceramics (LiNbO3, ZrSiO4, and Gd3Ga5O12) were irradiated with 200 MeV Au ions at an oblique incidence angle, and the as-irradiated samples were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion tracks in amorphizable ceramics are confirmed to be homogenous along the ion paths. Magnified TEM images show the formation of bell-shaped hillocks. The ion track diameter and hillock diameter are similar for all the amorphizable ceramics, while there is a tendency for the hillocks to be slightly bigger than the ion tracks. For SrTiO3 (STO) and 0.5 wt% niobium-doped STO (Nb-STO), whose hillock formation has not been fully explored, 200 MeV Au ion irradiation and TEM observation were also performed. The ion track diameters in these materials are found to be markedly smaller than the hillock diameters. The ion tracks in these materials exhibit inhomogeneity, which is similar to that reported for non-amorphizable ceramics. On the other hand, the hillocks appear to be amorphous, and the amorphous feature is in contrast to the crystalline feature of hillocks observed in non-amorphizable ceramics. No marked difference is recognized between the nanostructures in STO and those in Nb-STO. The material dependence of the nanostructure formation is explained in terms of the intricate recrystallization process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2635 KiB  
Article
Irradiation Effects of Swift Heavy Ions Detected by Refractive Index Depth Profiling
by Hiroshi Amekura, Rang Li, Nariaki Okubo, Norito Ishikawa and Feng Chen
Quantum Beam Sci. 2020, 4(4), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs4040039 - 16 Nov 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2471
Abstract
Evolution of depth profiles of the refractive index in Y3Al5O12 (YAG) crystals were studied under 200 MeV 136Xe14+ ion irradiation, since the index can be related with the stress change and/or the defect formation by the [...] Read more.
Evolution of depth profiles of the refractive index in Y3Al5O12 (YAG) crystals were studied under 200 MeV 136Xe14+ ion irradiation, since the index can be related with the stress change and/or the defect formation by the irradiation. Using the prism-coupling and the end-surface coupling methods, various waveguide (WG) modes were detected. Then, the index depth profiles were determined by reproducing the observed WG modes. The index changes were observed at three different depth regions; (i) a sharp dip at 13 μm in depth, which is attributed to the nuclear stopping Sn peak, (ii) a plateau near the surface between 0 and 3 μm in depth, which can be ascribed to the electronic stopping Se, since Se has a very broad peak at the surface, and (iii) a broad peak at 6 μm in depth. Since the last peak is ascribed to neither of Se nor Sn peak, it could be attributed to the synergy effect of Se and Sn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

20 pages, 18557 KiB  
Review
Control and Modification of Nanostructured Materials by Electron Beam Irradiation
by Shun-Ichiro Tanaka
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5030023 - 21 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3800
Abstract
I have proposed a bottom-up technology utilising irradiation with active beams, such as electrons and ions, to achieve nanostructures with a size of 3–40 nm. This can be used as a nanotechnology that provides the desired structures, materials, and phases at desired positions. [...] Read more.
I have proposed a bottom-up technology utilising irradiation with active beams, such as electrons and ions, to achieve nanostructures with a size of 3–40 nm. This can be used as a nanotechnology that provides the desired structures, materials, and phases at desired positions. Electron beam irradiation of metastable θ-Al2O3, more than 1019 e/cm2s in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), enables the production of oxide-free Al nanoparticles, which can be manipulated to undergo migration, bonding, rotation, revolution, and embedding. The manipulations are facilitated by momentum transfer from electrons to nanoparticles, which takes advantage of the spiral trajectory of the electron beam in the magnetic field of the TEM pole piece. Furthermore, onion-like fullerenes and intercalated structures on amorphous carbon films are induced through catalytic reactions. δ-, θ-Al2O3 ball/wire hybrid nanostructures were obtained in a short time using an electron irradiation flashing mode that switches between 1019 and 1022 e/cm2s. Various α-Al2O3 nanostructures, such as encapsulated nanoballs or nanorods, are also produced. In addition, the preparation or control of Pt, W, and Cu nanoparticles can be achieved by electron beam irradiation with a higher intensity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4221 KiB  
Review
Review of Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation Effects in CeO2
by William F. Cureton, Cameron L. Tracy and Maik Lang
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020019 - 16 Jun 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5473
Abstract
Cerium dioxide (CeO2) exhibits complex behavior when irradiated with swift heavy ions. Modifications to this material originate from the production of atomic-scale defects, which accumulate and induce changes to the microstructure, chemistry, and material properties. As such, characterizing its radiation response [...] Read more.
Cerium dioxide (CeO2) exhibits complex behavior when irradiated with swift heavy ions. Modifications to this material originate from the production of atomic-scale defects, which accumulate and induce changes to the microstructure, chemistry, and material properties. As such, characterizing its radiation response requires a wide range of complementary characterization techniques to elucidate the defect formation and stability over multiple length scales, such as X-ray and neutron scattering, optical spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. In this article, recent experimental efforts are reviewed in order to holistically assess the current understanding and knowledge gaps regarding the underlying physical mechanisms that dictate the response of CeO2 and related materials to irradiation with swift heavy ions. The recent application of novel experimental techniques has provided additional insight into the structural and chemical behavior of irradiation-induced defects, from the local, atomic-scale arrangement to the long-range structure. However, future work must carefully account for the influence of experimental conditions, with respect to both sample properties (e.g., grain size and impurity content) and ion-beam parameters (e.g., ion mass and energy), to facilitate a more direct comparison of experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 8129 KiB  
Review
Modification of Critical Current Density Anisotropy in High-Tc Superconductors by Using Heavy-Ion Irradiations
by Tetsuro Sueyoshi
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020016 - 21 May 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3730
Abstract
The critical current density Jc, which is a maximum value of zero-resistivity current density, is required to exhibit not only larger value but also lower anisotropy in a magnetic field B for applications of high-Tc superconductors. Heavy-ion irradiation introduces [...] Read more.
The critical current density Jc, which is a maximum value of zero-resistivity current density, is required to exhibit not only larger value but also lower anisotropy in a magnetic field B for applications of high-Tc superconductors. Heavy-ion irradiation introduces nanometer-scale irradiation tracks, i.e., columnar defects (CDs) into high-Tc superconducting materials, which can modify both the absolute value and the anisotropy of Jc in a controlled manner: the unique structures of CDs, which significantly affect the Jc properties, are engineered by adjusting the irradiation conditions such as the irradiation energy and the incident direction. This paper reviews the modifications of the Jc anisotropy in high-Tc superconductors using CDs installed by heavy-ion irradiations. The direction-dispersion of CDs, which is tuned by the combination of the plural irradiation directions, can provide a variety of the magnetic field angular variations of Jc in high-Tc superconductors: CDs crossing at ±θi relative to the c-axis of YBa2Cu3Oy films induce a broad peak of Jc centered at B || c for θi < ±45°, whereas the crossing angle of θi ≥ ±45° cause not a Jc peak centered at B || c but two peaks of Jc at the irradiation angles. The anisotropy of Jc can also modified by tuning the continuity of CDs: short segmented CDs formed by heavy-ion irradiation with relatively low energy are more effective to improve Jc in a wide magnetic field angular region. The modifications of the Jc anisotropy are discussed on the basis of both structures of CDs and flux line structures depending on the magnetic field directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7144 KiB  
Review
Ion Accelerator Facility of the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center for the Study of Irradiation Effects on Space Electronics
by Satoshi Hatori, Ryoya Ishigami, Kyo Kume and Kohtaku Suzuki
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5020014 - 13 May 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3562
Abstract
The core facility of the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center (WERC) consists of three ion accelerators: a synchrotron, a tandem accelerator and an ion-implanter. Research on the irradiation effects using these accelerators has been performed on space electronics such as solar cells, radiation [...] Read more.
The core facility of the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center (WERC) consists of three ion accelerators: a synchrotron, a tandem accelerator and an ion-implanter. Research on the irradiation effects using these accelerators has been performed on space electronics such as solar cells, radiation detectors, image sensors and LSI circuits. In this report, the accelerator facility and ion-irradiation apparatuses at WERC are introduced, focusing on the research on irradiation effects on space electronics. Then, some recent results are summarized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 15952 KiB  
Review
Self-Organized Nanostructures Generated on Metal Surfaces under Electron Irradiation
by Keisuke Niwase
Quantum Beam Sci. 2021, 5(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs5010004 - 19 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2846
Abstract
Irradiation of high-energy electrons can produce surface vacancies on the exit surface of thin foils by the sputtering of atoms. Although the sputtering randomly occurs in the area irradiated with an intense electron beam of several hundred nanometers in diameter, characteristic topographic features [...] Read more.
Irradiation of high-energy electrons can produce surface vacancies on the exit surface of thin foils by the sputtering of atoms. Although the sputtering randomly occurs in the area irradiated with an intense electron beam of several hundred nanometers in diameter, characteristic topographic features can appear under irradiation. This paper reviews a novel phenomenon on a self-organization of nanogrooves and nanoholes generated on the exit surface of thin metal foils irradiated with high doses of 360–1250 keV electrons. The phenomenon was discovered firstly for gold irradiated at temperatures about 100 K, which shows the formation of grooves and holes with widths between 1 and 2 nm. Irradiation along [001] produces grooves extending along [100] and [010], irradiation along [011] gives grooves along [100], whereas no clear grooves have been observed for [111] irradiations. By contrast, nanoholes, which may reach depths exceeding 20 nm, develop mainly along the beam direction. The formation of the nanostructures depends on the irradiation temperatures, exhibiting an existence of a critical temperature at about 240 K, above which the width significantly increases, and the density decreases. Nanostructures formed for silver, copper, nickel, and iron were also investigated. The self-organized process was discussed in terms of irradiation-induced effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Modifications of Metallic and Inorganic Materials by Using Energetic Ion/Electron Beams)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-20
Back to TopTop