Investigation of defects formation in ZrN thin film by proton and swift heavy ion irradiations

ZrN films were irradiated with 2 MeV proton and 91.3 MeV Xe ion. Our aim is to demonstrate the radiation damage tolerance of nanostructured ZrN. Uv-visible spectroscopy revealed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band at 650 nm of ZrN nanoparticles. After irradiation the LSPR band intensity increases and become larger. The band gap decreases, while Urbach energy increases indicating defect formation. It is found a better crystallinity and no swelling or contraction in the studied fluence range. Therefore, nanostructured ZrN can be used in harsh irradiation environments such as neutron reactors and aerospace without altering its structural and plasmonic properties. (author)