Trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies

Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. The results on trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes under irradiation of zirconium by deuterium atoms of thermal energies are presented. It is shown that the addition of oxygen to the operating gas during the irradiation causes the increase of the oxide layer thickness, the amount of hydroxyl groups in it and deuterium trapping in zirconium. Accelerated transport of deuterium atoms through the oxide layer saturated by hydroxyl groups is observed. Mechanisms of trapping and desorption of hydrogen isotopes and the role of oxygen in these processes are discussed.