Radiation stability of long-term annealed bi-phasic advanced ceramic breeder pebbles

Abstract Advanced ceramic breeder pebbles consisting of Li4SiO4 and additions of Li2TiO3 were tested regarding their long-term thermal and to their radiation stability. As-prepared and long-term annealed pebbles were irradiated with accelerated electrons (up to 6 MGy) to investigate the formation of radiation-induced defects and radiolysis products caused by ionizing radiation. By using Raman spectroscopy the formation of significant amounts of radiolysis products can be excluded. Electron spin resonance spectrometry revealed several paramagnetic radiation-induced defects, such as HC2 centres ( SiO 4 3 - and TiO 3 - ), E’ centres ( SiO 3 3 - and TiO 3 3 - ), Ti 3 + centres and peroxide radi…