Structure alterations in microporous (Mg,Fe)2Al4Si5O18 crystals induced by energetic heavy-ion irradiation

The microporous framework structure of (Mg1-xFex)2Al4Si5O18 (=cordierite) has been subject to a comparative study on the effect of structural alterations originating from exposure to high-energy heavy ions. Oriented samples (with x=0.061, 0.122, and 0.170) were irradiated with swift 124Xe, 197Au and 96Ru ions with 11.1 MeV per nucleon energy and fluences of 1x1012 and 1x1013 ions/cm2. Irradiated and non-irradiated samples were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, Moessbauer spectroscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy. Structural investigations reveal an essentially unchanged Al,Si ordering, which appears to be unaffected by irradiation. The most remarkable macroscopic change is the ion-beam induced colouration, which could be assigned to electronic charge transfer transitions involving the Fe cations. Moessbauer spectra indicate an increased amount of [4]Fe3+ for the irradiated sample. The most noticeable structural alteration concerns irradiation-induced dehydration of extra-framework H2O, which is accompanied by a reduction in the molar volume by ∼0.2 vol%. - Graphical abstract: Cordierite single-crystal specimen showing the color change from pale blue (unirradiated) to a yellowish brown layer (irradiated) after exposure to relativistic 124Xe ions at a fluence of 1x1012 ions per cm2.