FORMATION OF NANOPARTICLES IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF STABILIZED ZrO_2 UNDER ION IRRADIATION

摘要

The transmission spectra of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) single crystals irradiated with Zr ions to various doses were measured. The strong absorption between 400 and 650 nm was ascribed to metallic nanoparticles formed in YSZ under ion irradiation. Properties of the nanoparticles forming under irradiation with He and Zr ions were compared .In both cases, there is a threshold dose for nanoparticle formation. At the same time, the differnce in electrical properties between the samples irradiated with He and Zr ions suggests that different microscopic mechanisms are responsible for nonoparticle formation. Depending on irradiation conditions ,the nanoparticle properties may be similar to or different from those of metallic Zr, which can be explained by the particular character of nanoparticle formation in YSZ.