Deuterium interactions in oxygen-implanted copper

Abstract
The interaction of deuterium (D) with Cu2O precipitates in Cu was investigated at temperatures between 300–800 K using ion implantation, nuclear-reaction analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The exothermic reduction reaction between D and Cu2O to form D2O was found to occur readily at temperatures down to 300 K, with appreciable decomposition of the water and D release occurring only above 600 K. These processes, together with much weaker irradiation-defect trapping in the implanted Cu-Cu2O-D alloy, were quantitatively described by using an advanced transport formalism with independently evaluated reaction and trapping enthalpies. Buried oxide sinks formed by ion implantation were shown to provide an advantageous method of measuring hydrogen permeabilities and chemical potentials.