Opposite correlations between cation disordering and amorphization resistance in spinels versus pyrochlores.
Understanding and predicting radiation damage evolution in complex materials is crucial for developing next-generation nuclear energy sources. Here, using a combination of ion beam irradiation, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, we show that, contrary to the behaviour observed in pyrochlores, the amorphization resistance of spinel compounds correlates directly with the energy to disorder the structure. Using a combination of atomistic simulation techniques, we ascribe this behaviour to structural defects on the cation sublattice that are present in spinel but not in pyrochlore. Specifically, because of these structural defects, there are kinetic pathways for the relaxation of disorder in spinel that are absent in pyrochlore. This leads to a direct correlation between amorphization resistance and disordering energetics in spinel, the opposite of that observed in pyrochlores. These results provide new insight into the origins of amorphization resistance in complex oxides beyond fluorite derivatives.
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Blas Pedro
BP
Uberuaga
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Ming
M
Tang
Thermo-Calc Software Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15317, USA.
Chao
C
Jiang
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
James A
JA
Valdez
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.
Roger
R
Smith
Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Yongqiang
Y
Wang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
Kurt E
KE
Sickafus