Defect structure studies using positron annihilation spectroscopy

The positron annihilation method is a new addition to the range of sensitive complementary nuclear techniques available for materials’ research. The preferential sensitivity of positrons towards micro-defect domains which are not assessable by other techniques makes it an attractive tool for many materials science problems. The present paper is intended as a brief introduction on the principle of measurements and its potential is exemplified with the help of results on some metallic and ceramic systems.     

Evolution of native point defects in ZnO bulk probed bypositron annihilation spectroscopy

This paper studies the evolution of native point defects with temperature in ZnO single crystals by positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening (CDB) spectroscopy, combined with the calculated results of positron lifetime and electron momentum distribution. The calculated and experimental results of the positron lifetime in ZnO bulk ensure the presence of zinc monovacancy, and zinc monovacancy concentration begins to decrease above 600℃ annealing treatment. CDB is an effective method to distinguish the elemental species, here we combine this technique with calculated electron momentum distribution to determine the oxygen vacancies, which do not trap positrons due to their positive charge. The CDB spectra show that oxygen vacancies do not appear until 600℃ annealing treatment, and increase with the increase of annealing temperature. This study supports the idea that green luminescence has a close relation with oxygen vacancies.     

氘化对KH2PO4晶体微观缺陷影响的正电子湮没研究

采用传统降温法从不同程度氘化(x=0, 0.51, 0.85)的生长溶液中生长氘化KH₂PO₄(KDP) 晶体, 利用正电子湮没技术(正电子寿命谱和多普勒展宽谱)、结合X射线衍射谱(XRD) 结构分析, 对KDP晶体氘化生长的微观缺陷进行了研究, 讨论了氘化程度对晶体内部微观结构特性、缺陷类型和浓度的影响. XRD结果显示晶胞参数a, b值随氘含量的增加而增加, c值无明显变化; 正电子寿命谱结果发现随着氘化浓度的提高, KDP晶体内部中性填隙缺陷以及氧缺陷不断增加, 引起晶体晶格畸变; 氢空位、K空位、杂质替位缺陷不断发生缔合反应形成复合缺陷, 缺陷浓度不断减少; 团簇、微空洞等大尺寸缺陷也在不断发生聚合反应, 缺陷浓度表现为不断减少. 多普勒实验结果表明随着氘化程度的提升, 晶体内部各类缺陷表现为同步变化. 实验结果表明, KDP晶体在低浓度氘化生长(50%以内)下缺陷反应较弱, 而在高浓度氘化(50%以上)下的缺陷反应显著增强.     

Polydimethylsiloxane rubber gamma radiation effect studies by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Polydimethylsiloxane rubber was irradiated at various radiation doses up to 800 kGy in air. The lifetime and intensity of the long component τ₃ were obtained by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The crystallization property and the molecular flexibility were estimated using the differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic thermomechanic analysis. Thermal volatile property was determined by thermogravimetry analysis. It was proved that the cross-linking reaction made the chain flexibility of the rubber to reduce gradually during gamma radiation, which resulted in the reduction of the o-Ps intensity observed by PALS. Although the degradation effect existed during gamma radiation, it was still less significant than the cross-linking effect when the radiation dose was up to 800 kGy.     

A compact positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer

Using LYSO scintillator coupled on HAMAMATSU R9800(a fast photomultiplier)to form the small size γ-ray detectors,a compact lifetime spectrometer has been built for the positron annihilation experiments.The system time resolution FWHM=193 ps and the coincidence counting rate -8 cps/μCi were achieved.A lifetime value of 219±1 ps of positron annihilation in well annealed Si was tested,which is in agreement with the typical values published in the previous lectures.     

多孔硅薄层的正电子湮灭寿命研究

用阳极氧化法按不同腐蚀条件制备的多孔硅，其薄层厚度仅为几十纳米，远小于^22Na源的正电子平均射程．文章提出了一种用控Na的正电子测量体寿命谱并扣除基片贡献的方法，来确定多孔硅薄层的平均孔径。     

A compact positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer

Using LYSO scintillator coupled on HAMAMATSU R9800 (a fast photomultiplier) to form the small size γ-ray detectors, a compact lifetime spectrometer has been built for the positron annihilation experiments. The system time resolution FWHM=193 ps and the coincidence counting rate ～8 cps/μCi were achieved. A lifetime value of 219±1 ps of positron annihilation in well annealed Si was tested, which is in agreement with the typical values published in the previous lectures.     

Characterisation of atomic-scale defects in ODS ferritic alloys by positron annihilation

The vacancy-type defects and their local chemical environment in different ODS alloys produced in the USA (14YWT), China (K5) and Russia (ODS EP-450) are studied. The Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (ACAR), which is one of the positron annihilation spectroscopy method, was used. It was shown that in all alloys, except 14YWT, the dominant type of positron traps are vacancy-like defects, localised in matrix or associated with dislocations and/or interfaces of the incoherent particles. In the case of 14YWT alloy, which contains Y–Ti–O nanoclusters of a high density, the positrons confine and annihilate at O-vacancy pairs or complexes within nanoclusters. It is testified by enhanced electron density in annihilation sites and neighbourhood of Ti and Y atoms. These results, obtained by the ACAR method, indicate that the vacancies play an essential role in the formation of nanoclusters in ODS 14YWT alloy as it was theoretical predicted by first-principle calculations.     

Effect of vacancy charge state on positron annihilation in silicon

The charge-state-dependent lattice relaxation of mono-vacancy in silicon is studied using the first-principles pseu- dopotential plane-wave method. We observe that the structural relaxation for the first-neighbor atoms of the mono-vacancy is strongly dependent on its charge state. The difference in total electron density between with and without charge states in mono-vacancy and its relevant change due to the localized positron are also examined by means of first-principles simu- lation, demonstrating the strong interplay between positron and electron. Our calculations reveal that the positron lifetime decreases with absolute charge value increasing.     

正电子湮没谱和光致发光谱研究掺锌GaSb质子辐照缺陷

用正电子湮没谱和光致发光谱研究了质子辐照后掺锌GaSb中的缺陷.通过分析正电子的缺陷寿命τ₂及强度I₂的变化发现,在高能质子的辐照下产生了双空位缺陷V_GaV_Sb,可能同时产生了小的空位团.正电子平均寿命τ_av和S参数随着质子辐照剂量的变化也证明了这一结论.通过分析不同质子辐照剂量下掺锌GaS     

Identification of the pressure-induced phase transition of ZnSe with the positron annihilation method

This paper studies the pressure-induced phase transition between zincblende (B3) and NaCl (B1) structure ZnSe by using the hydrostatic pressure first-principles pseudopotential plane wave method. The energy-volume and enthalpy-pressure curves are employed to estimate the transition pressure. It is found that ZnSe undergoes a first-order phase transition from the B3 structure to the B1 structure at approximately 15 GPa derived from the energy-volume relation and 14 GPa based on deduction from enthalpy-pressure data. The pressure-related positron bulk lifetimes of the two ZnSe structures are calculated with the atomic superposition approximation method. In comparison with the 13.4% reduction in volume of ZnSe at the transition pressure, the positron bulk lifetime decreases more significantly and the relative value declines up to 22.3%. The results show that positron annihilation is an effective technique to identify and characterize the first-order phase transition and can give valuable information about changes in micro-scale, such as volume shrinkage and compressibility.     

Theoretical study on the Rocksalt structured positron annihilation in magnesium oxide

Based on the atomic superposition approximation （ATSUP） and first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave methods, the bulk and Mg mono-vacancy positron lifetime of magnesium oxide were calculated using Arponen-Pajamme and Borofiski-Nieminen positron-annihilation-rate interpolation formula respectively. The calculated values are in good agreement with experimental values and the first-principles method gives more convincing results. The positron annihilation density spectra analysis reveals that positrons mainly annihilate with valence electrons of oxygen atoms when the magnesium-vacancy appears within magnesium oxide.     

Theoretical study on the positron annihilation in Rocksalt structured magnesium oxide

Based on the atomic superposition approximation(ATSUP) and first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave methods,the bulk and Mg mono-vacancy positron lifetime of magnesium oxide were calculated using Arponen-Pajamme and Boron’ski-Nieminen positron-annihilation-rate interpolation formula respectively.The calculated values are in good agreement with experimental values and the first-principles method gives more convincing results.The positron annihilation density spectra analysis reveals that positrons mainly annihilate with valence electrons of oxygen atoms when the magnesium-vacancy appears within magnesium oxide.     

用正电子研究NaCl在NaY沸石上的固溶过程

用正电子湮没谱学研究NaCl与NaY沸石机械混合后, NaCl在NaY中的固溶扩散过程.分别测量不同质量比的NaCl/NaY［(1—20)%］经500℃烘烤1h，NaCl/NaY(15%)经不同温度烘烤1h,以及NaCl/NaY(15%)经500℃烘烤不同时间后的正电子寿命谱.所有寿命谱都出现了5个寿命分量, 其中第3，4，5寿命分别与β笼、超笼及沸石微粒界面空洞的大小和数量相关.实验表明正电子湮没谱学能敏感地表征NaCl在NaY中的固溶扩散过程. 关键词： 正电子湮没谱学 氯化钠 沸石     

利用正电子湮没技术研究钾掺杂钨合金中的缺陷

钨合金中钾的掺杂会引入大量的缺陷,如尺寸几十纳米的钾泡、高密度的位错以及微米量级的晶粒带来的晶界等,这些缺陷的浓度和分布直接影响合金的服役性能.本文运用正电子湮没谱学方法研究钾掺杂钨合金中的缺陷信息,首先模拟计算了合金中各种缺陷的正电子湮没寿命,发现钾的嵌入对空位团、位错、晶界等缺陷的寿命影响很小;然后测量了不同钾含量掺杂钨合金样品的正电子湮没寿命谱,建立三态捕获模型,发现样品中有高的位错密度和低的空位团簇浓度,验证了钾对位错的钉扎作用,阐述了在钾泡形成初期是钾元素与空位团簇结合并逐渐长大的过程;最后使用慢正电子多普勒展宽谱技术表征了样品中缺陷随深度的均匀分布和大量存在,通过扩散长度的比较肯定了钾泡、晶界等缺陷的存在.     

Co掺杂纳米ZnO微结构的正电子湮没研究

利用正电子湮没技术研究了10 at.% Co掺杂的Co₃O₄/ZnO纳米复合物中退火对缺陷的影响. 利用X射线衍射(XRD)测量了Co₃O₄/ZnO纳米复合物的结构和晶粒尺寸. 随着退火温度升高,Co₃O₄相逐步消失,ZnO晶粒尺寸也有显著增加. 经过1000 ℃以上退火后,Co₃O₄相完全消失,并出现了CoO的岩盐结构. 正电子湮没寿命测量显示出Co₃O₄ /ZnO纳米复合物中存在大量的Zn空位和空位团. 这些空位缺陷可能存在于纳米复合物的界面区域. 当退火温度达到700 ℃后Zn空位开始恢复,空位团也开始收缩. 900 ℃以上退火后,所有空位缺陷基本消失,正电子寿命接近ZnO完整晶格中的体态寿命值. 符合多普勒展宽谱测量也显示Co₃O₄ /ZnO纳米复合物经过900 ℃以上退火后电子动量分布与单晶ZnO基本一致,表明界面缺陷经过退火后得到消除. 关键词： ZnO 界面缺陷 正电子湮没     

Positron annihilation studies of mesoporous silica films using a slow positron beam

Positron annihilation lifetime spectra were measured for mesoporous silica films, which were synthesized using triblock copolymer (EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆) as a structure-directing agent. Different positron lifetime spectra for the deposited and calcined films indicated the formation of meso-structure after calcination, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observation. Open porosity or pore interconnectivity of a silica film might be evaluated by a two-dimensional positron annihilation lifetime spectrum of an uncapped film. Pore sizes and their distributions in the silica films were found to be affected by thermal treatments.     

质子辐照铝膜反射镜的慢正电子湮没研究

采用分光光度计测定了60keV质子辐照后铝膜反射镜反射光谱的变化规律.用慢正电子湮没等分析技术研究了辐照损伤的微观机制.结果表明，当质子辐照主要作用于反射镜铝膜层中时反射镜在200—800nm波长范围内反射率随辐照剂量增加而下降.入射质子可对铝膜中的缺陷产生填充作用，减小铝膜中电子密度，增加弱束缚电子带间跃迁.紫外至可见光能量较高的波段可引起带间激发跃迁，使相应的谱段反射率下降，导致反射镜光学性能的退化. 关键词： 反射镜 光学性能 质子辐照 慢正电子湮没     

Mesoporous titania films investigated by positron annihilation based on a slow positron beam

Tunable mesoporous titania (TiO₂) thin films were synthesized via a sol-gel method using an amphiphilic triblock copolymer F38 as the structural template. The dependence of crystalization, pore morphology and interconnectivity of TiO₂ films on the weight ratio of F38 was studied by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Doppler broadening of positron annihilation radiation spectroscopy based on a slow positron beam. By loading more F38, the crystallization of TiO₂ films is enhanced, accompanied by a decrement in oxygen vacancies/grain boundaries. Smaller and isolated mesopores are formed in the films prepared with F38 less than 15?wt%. The pore percolation occurs when the weight ratio of F38 is up to 20?wt% and larger and interconnected worm-like pores are formed.     

Hydrogen behaviour in electron-irradiated titanium alloys studied by positron annihilation method

Measurements of angular distribution of annihilation photons are applied to investigations of hydrogen behavior in annealed, plastically deformed, and irradiated titanium alloys. It is shown that hydrogen interaction with materials becomes more intensive in presence of structural imperfections of deformational and radiation origin. Probable mechanisms of hydrogen interaction with deformational and radiation defects are discussed.