Study of the Relationship between Changes in the Structural, Optical, and Strength Properties of AlN Ceramics Subjected to Irradiation with Heavy Xe23+ Ions

Yeugeniy V Bikhert; Artem L Kozlovskiy; Anatoli I Popov; Maxim V Zdorovets

doi:10.3390/ma16196362

Study of the Relationship between Changes in the Structural, Optical, and Strength Properties of AlN Ceramics Subjected to Irradiation with Heavy Xe²³⁺ Ions

Materials (Basel). 2023 Sep 22;16(19):6362. doi: 10.3390/ma16196362.

Authors

Yeugeniy V Bikhert^{1

2}, Artem L Kozlovskiy^{1

2

3}, Anatoli I Popov⁴, Maxim V Zdorovets^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpaev Str. 5, Astana 010008, Kazakhstan.
² Laboratory of Solid State Physics, The Institute of Nuclear Physics, Almaty 050032, Kazakhstan.
³ Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Business, Satbayev University, Almaty 050032, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 8 Kengaraga Str., LV-1063 Riga, Latvia.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively analyze the influence of different fluences of irradiation with Xe²³⁺ heavy ions on alterations in the structural, optical, and strength properties of AlN ceramics and to establish a connection between structural distortions and alterations in the optical and mechanical properties of the ceramics. X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy, and indentation and single-compression methods were used as research methods. During the study, it was demonstrated that at low irradiation fluences, the main role in the changes in the properties of the AlN ceramics is played by effects related to changes in their optical properties and a fundamental absorption edge shift, which characterizes changes in the electronic properties of the ceramics (changes in the distribution of electron density). A study of the variations in the optical properties of the examined samples in relation to the irradiation fluence showed that when the fluence surpasses 5 × 10¹¹ ion/cm², an extra-spectral absorption band emerges within the range of 3.38-3.40 eV. This band is distinctive for the creation of vacancy O_N-V_Al complexes within the damaged layer's structure. The presence of these complexes signifies structural deformations and the accumulation of defective inclusions within the damaged layer. An analysis of changes in the parameters of the crystal lattice showed that structural distortions in the damaged layer are due to the accumulation of tensile residual mechanical stresses, an increase in the concentration of which leads to the swelling and destruction of the damaged layer. Some correlations between the mechanical properties of ceramics and the irradiation fluence indicate the ceramics' remarkable resistance to radiation-induced brittleness and weakening. These effects become apparent only when structural damage accumulates, resulting in the swelling of the crystal lattice exceeding 2.5-3%.

Keywords: construction materials; deformations; heavy ions; nitride ceramics; radiation damage; structural changes.

Grants and funding

AP14972854/Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan