Release kinetics of tritium generation in neutron irradiated biphasic Li2TiO3–Li4SiO4 ceramic breeder

Abstract Biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 tritium breeders with different phase ratios were prepared by the solution combustion synthesis method. The as-prepared biphasic Li 2 TiO 3 –Li 4 SiO 4 and single-phase materials were irradiated by the thermal neutron with the flux of 2.75 × 10 13 n cm −2 s −1 at Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR). Tritium is generated based on the following reaction: 6 Li+ 1 n→ 3 T+ 4 He+4.8 MeV. The results of tritium release experiment show that tritium release starts at the lower temperature range for the biphasic materials. The tritium release temperature and the shape of tritium-TDS (Thermal desorption spectroscopy) spectra are dependent on the phase ratio of Li 2 TiO 3 to Li 4 SiO 4 . In the case of Li 2 TiO 3 /Li 4 SiO 4  = 2.0, tritium release starts at 400 K, and the tritium migration is mainly controlled by the diffusion process. With the increase of Li 4 SiO 4 content in the biphasic materials, tritium release is influenced by the de-trapping process.