Deviating from the pure MAX phase concept: Radiation-tolerant nanostructured dual-phase Cr ₂ AlC

Abstract

A dual-phase Cr2AlC material was synthesized using magnetron sputtering at a temperature of 648 K. A stoichiometric and nanocrystalline MAX phase matrix was observed along with the presence of spherical-shaped amorphous nano-zones as a secondary phase. The irradiation resistance of the material was assessed using a 300-keV Xe ion beam in situ within a transmission electron microscope up to 40 displacements per atom at 623 K: a condition that extrapolates the harmful environments of future fusion and fission nuclear reactors. At the maximum dose investigated, complete amorphization was not observed. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray revealed an association between swelling due to inert gas bubble nucleation and growth and radiation-induced segregation and clustering. Counterintuitively, the findings suggest that preexisting amorphous nano-zones can be beneficial to Cr2AlC MAX phase under extreme environments.

Irradiation stability and induced ferromagnetism in a nanocrystalline CoCrCuFeNi highly-concentrated alloy

“…In the face of the results observed in this work, different nanocrystalline HCAs have exhibited superior radiation resistance. The nanocrystalline WTaCrV HCA was observed to exhibit impressive radiation resistance under dual-beam in situ TEM ion irradiation (Kr irradiation and He implantation) at even higher irradiation temperatures than his present work: 1073 K. 28 Similarly, a dual-phase nanocrystalline Cr 2 AlC MAX phase was found to be resistant against amorphization and defect generation under 300 keV Xe implantation 89 (similar irradiation conditions to this present work).…”

Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation with Concurrent Hydrogen Evolution Utilizing an Efficient MoOx/Pt Catalyst

“…Only broad peaks appear in the PXRD pattern, in contrast to the sharp peaks related to the initial MoO 3 precursor, suggesting that MoO x has a “nanoamorphous” structure. [ 18 ] The prepared MoO x powder is also very easy to disperse in water to yield a clear suspension even without the assistance of sonication or magnetic stirring (see Figure S2, Supporting Information). By contrast, the MoO 3 precursor has a lower dispersibility in water.…”

Materials for Sustainable Nuclear Energy: A European Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for All Reactor Generations

“…Further gateways to improved future reactor performance are opened by perspective, generally ceramic or metallic refractory, materials, with specific radiation resistance features [101,347]. Examples range from ODS-Mo alloys [102] and the already mentioned layered materials [332,333,347] or nanocomposites [101,347], to high entropy alloys (HEA) [103,[353][354][355], or the wider class of complex concentrated alloys/compositionally complex alloys (CCA) [104,356,357], and MAX phases [105,[358][359][360][361][362]. These are classes of materials of still very low TRL, which, however, do appear to be promising in terms of corrosion and radiation resistance, especially HEA/CCA [103,[363][364][365][366][367].…”