Multi-direction channelling study of the Ag:YSZ nanocomposites prepared by ion implantation. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mikšová, R.; Jagerová, A.; Malinský, P.; Harcuba, P.; Veselý, J.; Holý, V.; Kentsch, U.; Macková, A.
• Is Part Of: Vacuum. Volume 184(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Ag-ion implantation -- Yttria-stabilised zirconia -- Damage accumulation -- Strain relaxation -- Nanoparticles; Vacuum -- Periodicals; 621.55
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2020.109773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-207X

Abstract

Abstract: The paper reports on implantation damage accumulation, Ag distribution and the interior morphology in different crystallographic orientations of implanted samples of cubic yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ). (100)-, (110)- and (111)-oriented YSZ was implanted with 400-keV Ag + ions at ion fluences from 5 × 10 14 to 5 × 10 16 cm −2 . Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in the channelling mode (RBS-C), as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD), were used for the quantitative measurement of the lattice disorder and Ag distribution. The defect propagation and Ag accumulation were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Although similar damage evolution trends were observed along with all channelling directions, the disorder accumulation is lower along the <110> direction than along the <100> and <111> direction. The damage extends much deeper than the theoretically predicted depths. It is attributed to long-range defect migration effects, confirmed by TEM. At the ion fluence of 5 × 10 16 cm −2, nanometre-sized Ag precipitates were identified in the depth of 30–130 nm based on the Ag concentration–depth profiles determined by RBS. Highlights: Ion-beam channelling in YSZ using RBS-C. 2D channeling patterns of the normalised angular backscattering yields around the three main directions in YSZ. The normalised yield observed around the three main directions in the Zr-sublattice. The progressive shift of the damage layer in the case of higher fluences. The formation of the Ag NPs is independent on the crystallographic orientations.