Study on effects of swift heavy ion irradiation on the crystal structure in CeO2 doped with Gd2O3

To simulate the effects of Gd2O3-doping and high-energy fission products in UO2, Gd2O3-doped CeO2 pellets were irradiated with 200-MeV Xe14+ ions. Doping and irradiation effects were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The lattice constant of CeO2 decreases and the local structure is disordered with increased doping levels. However, the irradiation induces an expansion of the lattice and a disordering of atomic arrangement near the Gd atoms. The effects of the irradiation become more pronounced with increasing Gd2O3-dopant levels. Our results are compared with those of a study involving Er2O3-doped CeO2.