Hydrogen distribution profiling

A technique using nuclear microanalysis has been developed to determine deuterium concentration versus depth profiles in the near-surface regions of solids. The technique uses an incident He-3 beam and detects the nuclear reaction products from the reaction He-3(d,p) He-4, as well as the Rutherford-scattered He-3 from atoms of the solid. By energy analysis of the He-4 recoils, the deuterium concentration-depth profile can be determined. Details and results of the technique are presented for ErD2. Using the same reaction the lattice location of D-2 in single crystals can be determined. The technique utilizes deuterium implantation followed by analysis with a channeled He-3 beam. Results are presented for D-2 in tungsten.