Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
YSZ and MgAl2O4-YSZ composite are two promising materials as in the inert matrix nuclear fuel for the incineration of plutonium. In this study, 400 keV Cs ions were implanted to a fluence of 1×1017 ions/m2 in both materials in order to investigate the retention behavior of fission product at elevated temperature. The implantations were completed at room temperature for the YSZ and 973 K for MgAl2O4-YSZ, respectively. Subsequent annealing at 1273 K was performed after a room temperature implantation of YSZ. After annealing, a high density of gas bubbles formed with diameter from 3 to 40 nm from the surface to a depth of 150 nm in the YSZ matrix. The swelling due to bubbles formation was estimated to be 2.5%. In situ TEM was employed during high temperature ion implantation of the MgAl2O4-YSZ composite. A high density of small bubbles with 5 nm in diameter formed in the MgAl2O4 and YSZ grains after an ion dose of 1×1017 ions/cm2. There was no preferential precipitation along grain boundaries. Electron Paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the type of defects that formed in the YSZ matrix.