Microstructure of surface cerium hydride growth sites

作者:Brierley Martin*; Knowles John; Montgomery Neil; Preuss Michael
来源:Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films , 2014, 32(3): 031402.
DOI:10.1116/1.4867475

摘要

Samples of cerium were exposed to hydrogen under controlled conditions causing cerium hydride sites to nucleate and grow on the surface. The hydriding rate was measured in situ, and the hydrides were characterised using secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy. The results show that the hydriding rate proceeded more quickly than earlier studies. Characterisation confirmed that the hydrogen is confined to the sites. The morphology of the hydrides was confirmed to be oblate, and stressed material was observed surrounding the hydride, in a number of cases lathlike features were observed surrounding the hydride sites laterally with cracking in the surface oxide above them. It is proposed that during growth the increased lattice parameter of the CeH2 induces a lateral compressive stress around the hydride, which relieves by the ca. 16% volume collapse of the gamma-Ce to alpha-Ce pressure induced phase transition. Cracking of the surface oxide above the laths reduces the diffusion barrier to hydrogen reaching the metal/oxide interface surrounding the hydride site and contributes to the anisotropic growth of the hydrides.

  • 出版日期2014-5