Evolutions of molecular oxygen formation and sodium migration in Xe ion irradiated borosilicate glasses

•5 MeV Xe ion irradiation effects in a borosilicate glass•Formation of molecular oxygen and increase of glass polymerization at high ion fluence•Depth-resolved information on molecular oxygen and sodium concentration•Formation of molecular oxygen can partially inhibited by the nuclear energy deposition.

The modifications of a commercial borosilicate glass induced by Xe ion irradiation have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and ToF-SIMS depth profiling. A decrease in the average Si–O–Si angle, an increase in the population of three-membered rings and an increase of the glass polymerization are evidenced. The molecular oxygen appears in the irradiated glasses after the irradiation fluence reaches approximately 1015 ions/cm2. The O2 concentration decreases with the depth of irradiated glass at the ion fluence of 2 × 1016 ions/cm2. A sodium depleted layer at the surface and a depleted zone at around the penetration depth of 5 MeV Xe ions are observed. The thickness of the sodium depleted layer increases with the irradiation fluence. Moreover, comparing with previous results after electron and Ar ion irradiation, it can be concluded that the nuclear energy deposition can partially inhibit the formation of molecular oxygen and increase the threshold value of electron energy deposition for the molecular oxygen formation.