Characterisation of dual ion beam irradiated yttria-stabilised zirconia by specific analytical techniques

• We report the combined effect of dual ion beam irradiated yttria-stabilized zirconia.
• The displacement damage created by dual ion beam is simply additive.
• MSDA model can explain the irradiation effects of dual ion beam.
• YSZ is irradiation resistance under high irradiation fluence.

The combined effect of dual ion beam irradiated yttria-stabilized zirconia was investigated through Rutherford backscattering spectrometry/channeling (RBS/C), high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compared with other experimental results of single ion beam irradiation, a multistep damage accumulation model can also explain the irradiation effects of dual ion beam. Irradiation damage created by Ar + He ions are simply additive and no synergy effect has been observed. The variation trends of step height and displacement damage are similar. The synergic effects of displacement damage between heavy recoil atoms and α-particle in nuclear waste matrices will not cause more serious damage than the sum of two kinds of ions. The two experimental damage peaks are consistent with those calculated using stopping and range of ions in matter (SRIM). Phase stability and irradiation resistance is further confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).