Publication date: 10th April 2024
The evolution of materials under irradiation is driven by the enhanced transport of atoms during irradiation. To understand, predict, and ultimately design new materials destined for nuclear energy applications, it is imperative to understand the motion of these atoms. Currently, there are no probes to directly measure this transport during irradiation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been extensively applied to these types of materials from the point of view of their conductivity and functionality. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) recently established the capability of combining electrochemical measurements with ion beam irradiations to develop a first-of-its-kind capability to directly measure the transport of atoms during irradiation. Different oxides have propensity for being radiation tolerant either through rapid self-annealing of radiation induced defects or through the formation of meta-stable disordered structures or phase changes. The current work explores the changes in conductivity under light ion irradiation of oxide materials with varying levels of radiation tolerance.