Thermal Desorption Study of the Trapping and Retention of Hydrogen Isotopes upon Irradiation of Oxidized Metal Surfaces with Hydrogen Plasma

Patterns of hydrogen isotope trapping and retention are investigated by applying hydrogen ion radiation to nickel samples free of oxidation, tungsten samples with oxide layer on their surfaces, and tungsten samples with aluminum coating with oxide layer. It is found that hydrogen isotope desorption upon hydrogen ion plasma irradiation occurs in samples of tungsten and tungsten with aluminum coating, but not in nickel samples. It is concluded that hydrogen isotope transport through the tungsten–aluminum interface is initiated when one surface of a samples is irradiated with hydrogen plasma ions.