Barium titanate (BaTiO3) is a technologically important ceramic because of its ferroelectric, dielectric and optical properties. It is currently being used to fabricate transducers, ceramic capacitors, self-regulating electric heaters, and thermal cameras. BaTiO3 has potential applications in advanced nuclear energy systems and space stations of the future, where the material will be required to maintain phase stability under irradiation. We have used molecular dynamics simulations of swift heavy ion irradiation effects in BaTiO3 in conjunction with experimental ion irradiation using 635 MeV 238U+ ions and electron microscopy to understand radiation-induced phase transformations. The simulations show that a cylindrical amorphous track with a radius of 1.2 nm forms along the ion track for energy deposition of 5 keV/nm. The track radius increases to 4.5 nm for energy deposition of 20 keV/nm. These simulations, in light of experimental evidence, reveal the atomic-level details of the competition between damage accumulation and annealing in complex ceramics.

Swift heavy ion irradiation-induced phase transformation in BaTiO<sub>3</sub>

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Swift heavy ion irradiation-induced phase transformation in BaTiO3

Swift heavy ion irradiation-induced phase transformation in BaTiO₃