Nanostructural evolution and behavior of H and Li in ion-implanted gamma-LiAlO2

2017 In-situ He+ ion irradiation is performed under a helium ion microscope to study nanostructural evolution in polycrystalline -LiAlO2 pellets. Various locations within a grain, across grain boundaries and at a cavity are selected. The results exhibit He bubble formation, grain-boundary cracking, nanoparticle agglomeration, increasing surface brightness with dose, and material loss from the surface. Similar brightening effects at grain boundaries are also observed under a scanning electron microscope. Li diffusion and loss from polycrystalline -LiAlO2 is faster than its monocrystalline counterpart during H2+ ion implantation at elevated temperatures. There is also more significant H diffusion and release from polycrystalline pellets during thermal annealing of 300 K implanted samples. Grain boundaries and cavities could provide a faster pathway for H and Li diffusion. H release is slightly faster from the 573 K implanted monocrystalline -LiAlO2 during annealing at 773 K. Metal hydrides could be formed preferentially along the grain boundaries to immobilize hydrogen.

Jiang, W., Zhang, J., Edwards, D. J., Overman, N. R., Zhu, Z., Price, L., ... Senor, D. J.

Jiang, Weilin||Zhang, Jiandong||Edwards, Danny J||Overman, Nicole R||Zhu, Zihua||Price, Lloyd||Gigax, Jonathan||Castanon, Elizabeth||Shao, Lin||Senor, David J

Nanostructural evolution and behavior of H and Li in ion-implanted gamma-LiAlO2 Academic Article