Physical vapour deposition of metallic lithium

The preparation of thin films of LiF restarted a few years ago at the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM). Deposits of 6LiF and 7LiF with an areal density up to approximately 500 µg·cm-2 are prepared by physical vapour deposition for neutron production (Li(p,n)) in the Van de Graaff accelerator at IRMM. In order to reach higher neutron yields, a larger number of Lithium nuclei per unit of surface is requested. In a proton beam however, high-energetic gamma rays are produced by interaction with Fluorine and disturb experiments making use of gamma spectrometry. In this regard, the deposition of metallic Lithium by means of physical vapour deposition up to an areal density of 300 µg·cm-2 was examined. Yet, metallic Li is known to diffuse into certain materials and react with atmospheric air by forming several reaction products. In this regard, the effect of protective covers of Au or LiF (sandwiches), deposited by means of a multi-crucible evaporation system, was investigated and the stability of the layers in the proton beam was measured.

VANLEEUW David;  SAPUNDJIEV Danislav;  SIBBENS Goedele;  OBERSTEDT Stephan;  SALVADOR CASTINEIRA Paula; 

2014-01-27

SPRINGER

JRC72498

0236-5731,   

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10967-013-2669-6,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC72498,   

10.1007/s10967-013-2669-6,