Neutron irradiation effects in La2Zr2O7 pyrochlore

Abstract

Isometric pyrochlore oxides (A2B2O7) offer a wide range of applications, including electrolytes, sensors, the immobilization of radioactive nuclides, and so on because of their extraordinary structural and physical properties. In the present study, neutron irradiation experiments were used to investigate the irradiation-induced defects in a complex oxide, La2Zr2O7. The grazing incident X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) and Raman spectroscopy have been used to examine the defects in La2Zr2O7 pyrochlore. To obtain more information about the defects in the La2Zr2O7 system, positron annihilation spectroscopy was performed. GI-XRD study exhibits the significant amorphization processes and lattice contraction in La2Zr2O7.