Helium irradiated cavity formation and defect energetics in Ni-based binary single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys

Abstract Binary single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys (SP CSAs), including Ni80Co20, Ni80Fe20, Ni80Cr20, Ni80Pd20, and Ni80Mn20 (in atomic percentage), were irradiated with 200 keV He+ ions at 500 °C. He cavity size and density distribution were systematically investigated using transmission electron microscope. Here we show that alloying elements have a clear impact on He cavity formation. Cavity size is the smallest in Ni80Mn20 but the largest in Ni80Co20. Alloying elements could also substantially affect cavity density profile. In-depth examination of cavities at peak damage region (∼500 nm) and at low damage region (∼300 nm) demonstrates that cavity size is depth (damage) dependent. Competition between consumption and production of vacancies and He atoms could lead to varied cavity size. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to obtain the formation and migration energies of interstitials and vacancies. Combined experimental and simulation results show that smaller energy gap between interstitial and vacancy migration energies may lead to smaller cavity size and narrower size distribution observed in Ni80Mn20, comparing with Ni80Co20. The results of this study call attention to alloying effects of specific element on cavity formation and defect energetics in SP CSAs, and could provide fundamental understanding to predict radiation effects in more complexed SP CSAs, such as high entropy alloys.