Electron channeling X-ray microanalysis for cation configuration in irradiate magnesium aluminate spinel

High angular resolution electron channeling X-ray spectroscopy (HARECXS) was examined as a practical tool to locate lattice-ions in spinel crystals. The orientation dependent intensity distribution of emitted X-rays obtained by HARECXS is so sensitive to lattice-ion configuration in the illuminated areas that the occupation probabilities on specific positions in the crystal lattice can be determined accurately through comparison with the theoretical rocking curves. HARECXS measurements have revealed partially disordered cation arrangement in MgO{center_dot}nAl{sub 2}O{sub 3} with n = 1.0 and 2.4. Most Al{sup 3+} lattice-ions occupy the octahedral (VIII) sites, while Mg{sup 2} lattice-ions reside on both the tetrahedral (IV) and the octahedral (VIII) sites. The structural vacancies are enriched in the IV-sites. Further evacuation of cations from the IV-sites to the VIII-sites is recognized in a disordering process induced by irradiation with 1 MeV Ne{sup +} ions up to 8.9 dpa at 870 K