The effect of nitrogen ion implantation on tungsten surfaces

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study the phase, composition and chemical states of elements at the tungsten surface. The measurement results indicate that nitrogen-containing phase of tungsten were formed by nitrogen ion implantation (energy 40 keV, implantation doses of 4×10¹⁷, 8×10¹⁷ and 1.6×10¹⁸ ions/cm²). The formation of the W_x(O,N) and WN in the surface layer occurred as a result of nitrogen ion irradiation. A decrease in concentration of W_x(O,N) is observed with increasing N⁺ while that WN increases. Due to residual oxygen in the chamber WO₃ still exists at the surface of the specimen.