Ion-beam irradiation of lanthanum compounds in the systems La2O3–Al2O3 and La2O3–TiO2

Thin crystals of La2O3, LaAlO3, La2/3TiO3, La2TiO5, and La2Ti2O7 have been irradiated in situ using 1 MeV Kr2+ ions at the Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem User Facility (IVEM-Tandem), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). We observed that La2O3 remained crystalline to a fluence greater than 3.1×1016 ions cm−2 at a temperature of 50 K. The four binary oxide compounds in the two systems were observed through the crystalline–amorphous transition as a function of ion fluence and temperature. Results from the ion irradiations give critical temperatures for amorphisation (Tc) of 647 K for LaAlO3, 840 K for La2Ti2O7, 865 K for La2/3TiO3, and 1027 K for La2TiO5. The Tc values observed in this study, together with previous data for Al2O3 and TiO2, are discussed with reference to the melting points for the La2O3–Al2O3 and La2O3–TiO2 systems and the different local environments within the four crystal structures. Results suggest that there is an observable inverse correlation between Tc and melting temperature (Tm) in the two systems. More complex relationships exist between Tc and crystal structure, with the stoichiometric perovskite LaAlO3 being the most resistant to amorphisation.

La2TiO5 with atypical co-ordination for Ti, TiO5 is found to be different in radiation resistance to La2Ti2O7 and La2/3TiO3. Irradiation of La–Ti–O, and La–Al–O based systems has found that radiation damage resistance is related to the ability of the system to disorder.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide