Thermal Stability of BNCT Neutron Production Target Synthesized by In-Situ Lithium Deposition and Ion Implantation

Abstract

To testify thermal stability of the BNCT neutron target synthesized by in-situ lithium deposition and ion implantation, laser heating test of the Li₃N/Li/Cu tri-layered target was conducted in high vacuum chamber of 10⁻⁶ Pa and thermal stability of the tri-layered target was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The following conclusions were derived; (1) The Li₃N/Li/Cu tri-layered target with very low oxide and carbon contamination was synthesized by in-situ lithium deposition and ion implantation techniques without H₂O and O₂ additions. (2) The starting temperature of evaporation of the Li₃N/Li/Cu tri-layered target increased by 120 K compared to that of the Li/Cu target and (3) frequent repair synthesis of the damaged Li₃N/Li/Cu tri-layered target caused by evaporation is possible.