Structural evolution in tin chloride through neutron irradiation

Abstract

This study examines the feasibility of neutroninduced nuclear transmutation for producing indium-doped tin materials using SnCl2 as a model system. Neutron irradiation resulted in structural modifications, including morphological changes, lattice expansion, and the formation of indium-containing crystalline phases. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICPOES) confirmed the presence of indium at approximately 0.88 at. % postirradiation, with a uniform distribution across the material. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy provided additional evidence of structural changes, supporting the successful incorporation of indium into the SnCl2 matrix. These results indicate that nuclear transmutation can be used to produce indiumdoped tin materials, offering an alternative approach for synthesizing materials relevant to advanced applications. The process utilizes the neutron capture properties of chlorine to control neutron penetration, contributing to the development of materials with specific characteristics.