Towards quantitative inference of nanoscale defects in irradiated metals and alloys

TL;DR

This paper reviews current methods for indirectly quantifying nanoscale defects in irradiated metals and alloys, emphasizing the integration of experimental data and modeling to achieve comprehensive defect characterization.

Contribution

It highlights existing experimental techniques and proposes future directions combining multi-modal data and modeling for complete defect quantification.

Findings

Current methods provide partial defect information

Combining multiple characterization techniques enhances defect inference

Multi-scale modeling is crucial for comprehensive defect analysis

Abstract

Quantifying the population of nanoscale defects that are formed in metals and alloys exposed to extreme radiation environments remains a pressing challenge in materials science. These defects both fundamentally alter material properties and seed long-timescale performance degradation, which often limits the lifespan of engineering systems. Unlike ceramic and semiconducting materials, these defects in metals and alloys are not spectroscopically active, forcing characterization to rely on indirect measurements from which the distribution of nanoscale defects may be inferred. In this mini-review, different experimental methodologies which have been employed for defect inference are highlighted to capture the current state of the art. Future directions in this area are proposed, which, by combining data streams from multiple and complementary characterization methods in concert with multi-scale modeling and simulation, will enable the ultimate goal of quantifying the full spectrum of defects in irradiated metals and alloys.