A review on the anomalous exothermic behavior of bubbles in aluminum induced by electron irradiation

Qicong Chen; Yupeng Yin; Wentuo Han; Xiaoou Yi; Pingping Liu; Qian Zhan; Somei Ohnuki; Farong Wan

Journal of Materials Research and Technology (Mar 2025)

A review on the anomalous exothermic behavior of bubbles in aluminum induced by electron irradiation

Qicong Chen,
Yupeng Yin,
Wentuo Han,
Xiaoou Yi,
Pingping Liu,
Qian Zhan,
Somei Ohnuki,
Farong Wan

Affiliations

Qicong Chen: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Yupeng Yin: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Wentuo Han: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Power Safety Technology and Equipment, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; Corresponding author. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
Xiaoou Yi: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Pingping Liu: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Qian Zhan: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
Somei Ohnuki: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
Farong Wan: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China; Corresponding author. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 35
pp. 1283 – 1295

Abstract

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Anomalous exothermic phenomenon (AEP) under bubble irradiation in solids has captured widespread interest in the energy field. AEP was discovered during the transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation of deuterium-implanted aluminum. Under the irradiation of TEM electron beam, deuterium (D) bubbles led to AEP, causing the surrounding single-crystal aluminum to instantaneously transform into polycrystalline. The released heat was estimated as about 160 MeV. AEP has been discovered in different gas bubbles such as hydrogen, helium, argon, and neon. The influencing factors of AEP can be summarized as the bubble morphology and pressure, gas type and density, electron beam energy, and irradiation time. The factor interrelationships and the AEP threshold are discussed. In conjunction with experimental phenomena and simulation, the mechanism of AEP is speculated to be the plasma formation within the gas bubble. The generation of this substantial energy only requires the irradiation of bubbles with a beam of energetic particle. Such convenient, efficient, and controllable energy source is attractive. AEP may provide a potent new energy form.

Published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology

ISSN: 2238-7854 (Print); 2214-0697 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-materials-research-and-technology/

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