Influence of helium ion radiation on the nano-grained Li2TiO3 ceramic for tritium breeding

Lithium titanium oxide (Li₂TiO₃) tritium breeder ceramic plates with nano- and coarse-grain size were fabricated. The preparation methods contained CTAB-modifying precursor, combining dry-pressing with isostatically cold-pressing, and calcinating at optimized sintering temperature in turn. Then their properties were characterized after radiation by 280 keV helium (He⁺) ion. Extensive characterization analyses were performed to reveal the changes in nano-grained and coarse-grained Li₂TiO₃ after radiation. They contained glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron spin resonance (ESR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed as follows, GIXRD peak position of the nano-grained Li₂TiO₃ was more stable than the coarse-grained Li₂TiO₃ after radiation. Nano-grained Li₂TiO₃ was less rough and swollen than the coarse-grained one after radiation. Nano-grained Li₂TiO₃ had more excellent structural stability and less defect concentration of E?-center after radiation. As a result, nano-grained Li₂TiO₃ might have much better radiation tolerance than the coarse-grained one by comparing characterization results.