Radiation-induced modifications in copper oxide growth

Cu samples were irradiated with 10 MeV Au3+ ions at 200 °C to damage levels of 5, 10, and 15 displacements per atom (dpa) as an analogue to study long term self-irradiation effects of alpha- decay in Pu. Samples were then subject to accelerated aging at 350 °C for 1 hour in air resulting in mixed oxide layer growth (Cu2O and CuO). Raman spectroscopy revealed that the CuO phase fraction was gradually decreased as the damage level increased. These findings indicate that accumulated damage from self-irradiation causes quantifiable modifications in metal oxidation that could serve as a novel forensic signature.