Determination and benchmarking of 27Al(d,α) and 27Al(d,p) reaction cross sections for energies and angles relevant to NRA

The cross-sections of deuteron-induced nuclear reactions suitable for ion beam analysis, measured in different laboratories, are often significantly different. In the present work, differential cross-sections of 27Al(d,p) and 27Al(d,α) reactions were measured, and the cross sections benchmarked with thick target spectra obtained from pure aluminium for the first time in two independent laboratories. The 27Al(d,p) and (d,α) differential cross-sections were measured between 1.4 and 2 MeV at scattering angles of 165°, 150°, and 135° in the VDGT laboratory in Tehran (Iran), and the same measurements for detector angle of 150° were repeated from scratch, including target making, with independent equipment on the SAFIR platform at INSP in Paris (France). The results of these two measurements at 150° are in good agreement, and for the first time a fitted function is proposed to describe the Al-cross sections for which no suitable theoretical expression exists. The obtained differential cross-sections were validated through benchmarking, by fitting with SIMNRA deuteron-induced particle spectra obtained from a high purity bulk Al target at both labs for deuteron incident energies between 1.6 and 2 MeV. The thick target spectra are well-reproduced. The evaluated and benchmarked cross sections have been uploaded to the ion beam analysis nuclear data library database (www-nds.iaea.org/ibandl/).

Absolute Local Quantification of Li as Function of State-of-Charge in All-Solid-State Li Batteries via 2D MeV Ion-Beam Analysis

Direct observation of the lithiation and de-lithiation in lithium batteries on the component and microstructural scale is still difficult. This work presents recent advances in MeV ion-beam analysis, enabling quantitative contact-free analysis of the spatially-resolved lithium content and state-of-charge (SoC) in all-solid-state lithium batteries via 3 MeV proton-based characteristic x-ray and gamma-ray emission analysis. The analysis is demonstrated on cross-sections of ceramic and polymer all-solid-state cells with LLZO and MEEP/LIBOB solid electrolytes. Different SoC are measured ex-situ and one polymer-based operando cell is charged at 333 K during analysis. The data unambiguously show the migration of lithium upon charging. Quantitative lithium concentrations are obtained by taking the physical and material aspects of the mixed cathodes into account. This quantitative lithium determination as a function of SoC gives insight into irreversible degradation phenomena of all-solid-state batteries during the first cycles and locations of immobile lithium. The determined SoC matches the electrochemical characterization within uncertainties. The presented analysis method thus opens up a completely new access to the state-of-charge of battery cells not depending on electrochemical measurements. Automated beam scanning and data-analysis algorithms enable a 2D quantitative Li and SoC mapping on the µm-scale, not accessible with other methods.

27 Al(d,alpha) and 27 Al(d,p) Nuclear Reaction Cross Sections at Ed<2MeV Measured at Three Backward Scattering Angles Related to NRA

The cross-sections of deuteron-induced nuclear reactions suitable for ion beam analysis, measured in different laboratories, are often significantly different. In the present work, differential cross-sections of 27 Al(d,p) and 27 Al(d,α) reactions were measured, and the cross sections benchmarked with thick target spectra obtained from pure aluminium for the first time in two independent laboratories. The 27 Al(d,p) and (d,alpha) differential cross-sections were measured between 1.4 and 2 MeV at scattering angles of 165°, 150°, and 135° in the VDGT laboratory in Tehran (Iran), and the same measurements for detector angle of 150° were repeated from scratch, including target making, with independent equipment on the SAFIR platform at INSP in Paris (France). The results of these two measurements at 150° are in good agreement, and for the first time a fitted function is proposed to describe the Al-cross sections for which no suitable theoretical expression exists. The obtained differential cross-sections were validated through benchmarking, by fitting with SIMNRA deuteron-induced particle spectra obtained from a high purity bulk Al target at both labs for deuteron incident energies between 1.6 and 2 MeV. The thick target spectra are well-reproduced. The evaluated and benchmarked cross sections have been uploaded to the ion beam analysis nuclear data library database (www-nds.iaea.org/ibandl/).

RBS Channeling MATLAB Application for Automated Measurement Control and Evaluation for 6MV Tandetron Accelerator

Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in channeling regimes (RBS/C), as an ion beam analysis method performed on a Tandetron 6MV accelerator, generally gives precise information about the structure of crystalline samples by combining RBS signals in the random and aligned configurations. This paper presents details about the design and implementation of tailored RBS/C measurements (coarse and fine) and data evaluation application developed in MATLAB for in situ accelerator control system ARGUS, delivered by High Voltage Engineering Europa BV (HVEE). Additionally, we examined two different ways of stepping during the measurement to reduce the possible inaccuracies related with goniometer’s backslash affecting the evaluation of spectra. Verification experiment was carried out using a 2-MeV 4He+-beam directed on a Si (100) substrate. The channeling effect is seen as channeling dips of a lower signal in an otherwise rather homogeneous plane. Implemented application significantly facilitates the RBS/C measurement and analysis of the experiments, and also extends the ion beam analysis portfolio of Advanced Technologies Research Institute. Finally, software is ready-to-use for any Tandetron based ion beam facility with the ARGUS software for accelerator control.