Irradiation effect of yttria-stabilized zirconia by high dose dual ion beam irradiation

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is irradiated with 2.0-MeV Au²⁺ ions and 30-keV He⁺ ions. Three types of He, Au, Au + He (successively) ion irradiation are performed. The maximum damage level of a sequential dual ion beam implanted sample is smaller than single Au ion implanted sample. A comparable volume swelling is found in a sequential dual ion beam irradiated sample and it is also found in a single Au ion implanted sample. Both effects can be explained by the partial reorganization of the dislocation network into weakly damaged regions in the dual ion beam implanted YSZ. A vacancy-assisted helium trapping/diffusion mechanism in the dual ion beam irradiated condition is discussed. No phase transformation or amorphization behavior happens in all types of ion irradiated YSZ.