LAUSR

Next generation nuclear energy systems require advanced structural materials having superior radiation tolerance to increase their longevity and robustness while maintaining optimum performance. In this quest, various materials design of interfaces has been studied to understand efficiency of radiation-induced defect absorption [1]. Nanostructured materials are of particular interest due to an extremely high density of interfaces [1]. Nanotwins are bands of multiple twin boundaries spaced nanometers apart; twin boundaries are a special set of interfaces that can exhibit properties atypical of normal grain boundaries. For instance, a nanotwinned structure in diamonds exhibits enhanced hardness and thermal stability compared to a pure diamond structure [2]. Moreover, nanotwinned metals have shown intriguing radiation response making twin boundaries an attractive tuning parameter for advanced structural materials [3], however, the structural stability of nanotwins with respect to radiation damage is not completely understood.