Effect of Pt on the electron-irradiation-induced decomposition of sapphire

The effect of platinum on the electron-irradiation-induced decomposition of sapphire was investigated by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Comparison between the decomposition rates of pure sapphire and Pt-deposited sapphire revealed that the deposition of Pt considerably decreased the decomposition rate of sapphire under electron irradiation. These finds suggest Pt suppresses the interatomic Auger decay that occurs between Al3+ and O2− ions, thereby decreasing the decomposition rate of sapphire.