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Structural modifications of Gd2Zr2-xTixO7 pyrochlore induced by swift heavy ions: Disordering and amorphization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

M. Lang ,
F.X. Zhang ,
R.C. Ewing ,
Jie Lian ,
Christina Trautmann  and
Zhongwu Wang
M. Lang
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005; and Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005
F.X. Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005; and Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005
R.C. Ewing*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005; and Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005
Jie Lian
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180; and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005; and Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005
Christina Trautmann
Affiliation:
Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
Zhongwu Wang
Affiliation:
Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: rodewing@umich.edu
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Abstract

The isometric, pyrochlore structure type, A2B2O7, exhibits a wide variety of properties that find application in a large number of different technologies, from electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells to actinide-bearing compositions that can be used as nuclear waste forms or inert matrix nuclear fuels. Swift xenon ions (1.43 GeV) have been used to systematically modify different compositions in the Gd2Zr2-xTixO7 binary at the nanoscale by radiation-induced phase transitions that include the crystalline-to-amorphous and order-disorder structural transformations. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy provide a complete and consistent description of structural changes induced by the swift heavy ions and demonstrate that the response of pyrochlore depends strongly on chemical composition. The high and dense electronic energy deposition primarily results in amorphization of Ti-rich pyrochlore; whereas the formation of the fully disordered, defect-fluorite structure is the dominant process for Zr-rich pyrochlore.

Keywords

CeramicIon-solid interactionsRadiation effects
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 1322 - 1334
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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