Surface radioactive contamination of silicon under irradiation in a nuclear reactor

Chemisorption of radioactive elements from the water of an experimental channel with the surface of monocrystalline silicon specimens under neutron irradiation in a reactor has been established. Nuclear reactor radiation is shown to stimulate the diffusion of adsorbed elements into the volume of monocrystalline silicon specimens irradiated. The radioactive elements are effectively desorbed from the surface of silicon specimens when washing them in the oxide-peroxide solution. It is necessary to etch the layer of several micrometer in thick for full surface decontamination