Deuterium release from lithium–deuterium films, deposited in the magnetron discharge

•A setup for magnetron deposition and in situ TDS measurement has been developed.•The deposited films are mainly metallic Li.•TDS spectra have two sharp peaks with maxima at 710 K and 850 K.•Large amount of deuterium is accumulated in the films.•After 3 days of atmospheric exposure, no deuterium remains in the films.

A set-up for co-deposition of lithium–deuterium mixed films and in situ thermal desorption spectroscopy is described. The set-up consists of a HV chamber with a magnetron discharge for Li–D co-deposition, UHV chamber for thermal desorption measurements and a sample transfer system between the chambers. It was found that a large amount of deuterium was accumulated in the lithium films. Deuterium thermal desorption spectra had two sharp peaks with maxima around 710 K and 850 K. Li–D films kept in air at room temperature lost deuterium; no deuterium was detected in the films after three days in air.