Investigation of ion irradiation induced damages in iron phosphate glasses: Role of electronic and nuclear losses in glass network modification

Ion irradiation was used as a surrogate approach to mimic radiation induced modification in iron phosphate glass network. To understand the synergetic effect of electronic and nuclear energy losses in glass network modification, ions at different energies were employed. The iron phosphate glasses were irradiated with Au ions at different ion energies between 750 keV and 20 MeV. The ion beam irradiated samples were characterised by employing different techniques.The Fe L2,3- edge X-ray absorption spectra of irradiated samples reveal reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+, induced by ion beam irradiation. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy imaging confirm formation of crystalline Fe3(P2O7)2, Fe4(P2O7)3, Fe(PO)4, and Fe(PO3)3 phases. The origin of these crystalline phases may be attributed to induced stress in irradiated samples. The observed decrease in hardness of irradiated samples was attributed to formation of non-bridging oxygen.