Tritium (³H) must be replenished for strategic stockpile and fusion reactors. ⁶Li-enriched γ-LiAlO₂ pellets have been used for ³H production by thermal neutron irradiation. A fundamental study of ³H and ⁶Li diffusion processes in irradiated γ-LiAlO₂ pellets is needed to assess and predict the long-term material performance. This study focuses on identifying the trapping sites and diffusion pathways of ¹H (a surrogate for ³H) and Li atoms in polycrystalline γ-LiAlO₂ pellets irradiated with both ⁴He⁺ and ¹H₂⁺ ions. A combination of STEM-EELS, Nano-SIMS and APT is employed for chemical imaging at nanoscale resolution. There is direct evidence for preferred Li diffusion pathways along grain boundaries. Isolated voids are identified as possible Li trapping sites in the irradiated γ-LiAlO₂ pellets. Possible lithium hydrides and/or hydrates are precipitated on the surface of the irradiated pellets. This study improves our understanding of H and Li diffusion processes and provides data for modelling and simulation to predict material performance during neutron irradiation of γ-LiAlO₂ pellets.

对于战略性储备和聚变反应堆，必须补充t（³ H）。⁶富含Li的γ-LiAlO ₂粒料已经被用于³通过热中子照射h生产。的基本研究³ H和^6个在照射γ-LiAlO Li扩散过程_2个需要丸粒，以评估和预测长期材料性能。本研究着重于识别所述俘获位点和扩散路径^1个H（来产生代理³ H）和Li原子在晶γ-LiAlO _2个粒料照射既⁴赫⁺和¹H ₂ ⁺离子。STEM-EELS，Nano-SIMS和APT的组合用于纳米级分辨率的化学成像。有直接证据表明优选的Li沿晶界的扩散途径。隔开的孔隙被确定为使被照射的γ-LiAlO可能李俘获网站₂颗粒。可能的氢化物和/或水合物锂沉淀在被辐射的颗粒表面上。本研究提高了我们的H和Li扩散过程的理解和用于建模和仿真γ-LiAlO的中子照射期间来预测材料性能提供数据₂粒料。