The effect of Au ion-implantation on the long- and shortrange
order of La1-xYbxPO4 materials was studied using m-XRD
and GA-XANES. The m-XRD data revealed the loss of long-range
order in the La1-xYbxPO4 materials that were implanted with
2 MeV Au ions. The P K-, P L2,3-, and La L3-edge XANES spectra
clearly showed that the La1-xYbxPO4 materials are susceptible to
radiation-induced structural damage. The P K- and La L3-edge GAXANES
and P L2,3-edge XANES spectra were observed to be very
sensitive to changes in the local structure of these materials as a
result of ion-implantation. The P K-edge GA-XANES spectra provided
evidence for the occurrence of partial recrystallization of the
structure of the La0.3Yb0.7PO4 and YbPO4 materials that were
implanted with Au ions to the highest dose (1 1015 ions/cm2
).
Annealing studies of the ion-implanted La1-xYbxPO4 materials
have shown the ability of these materials to recover (either
partially or completely depending on composition) from structural
damage caused by the implantation of high-energy Au ions.
It was found in this study that the ability of ion-implanted rareearth
phosphates to recover from a damaged state is dependent on
the ion-dose received and the temperature that these materials
are exposed to post implantation.
Ac