Abstract - Despite the significant importance of nuclear graphite as a promising plasma-facing component material in all thermonuclear fusion devices, its physico-chemical microstructural behavior under severe irradiation conditions was poorly understood. To provide a wide range of information and understanding about the structure change of nuclear graphite under energetic hydrogen ion irradiation, we therefore carried out a systematic study with employing various characterization tools such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, we suggested possible surface chemical erosion mechanism from the observed physico-chemical microstructural changes.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2012.02.065