Pushpalatha Devi Y., Shinde D.R., Keskar N., Ost A., Audinot J.N., Kumar S., Mani Krishna K.V., Singh J.B., Singh R.N.
Materials Today Communications, vol. 50, art. no. 114649, 2026
Yttrium (Y) exhibits strong hydrogen affinity and solubility, but its application as a getter in zirconium (Zr)-based systems has not yet been demonstrated through microstructural evidence. This study presents the first spatially resolved, multi-scale microstructural evidence of hydrogen/hydride redistribution and retention by yttrium, obtained using atom probe tomography (APT), nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and optical-microscopy. Two complementary experimental configurations were examined: (1) a laser-welded Zr-2.5 Nb/Y couple, used to track progressive hydride redistribution in Zr-2.5 Nb during post-charging annealing; and (2) a Y-rich (∼60 wt%) Zr-Nb-Y alloy, used to examine hydrogen/deuterium uptake and hydride suppression. In a welded Zr-2.5 Nb/Y couple, after 32 h at 400°C, hydrides in Zr-2.5 Nb were nearly eliminated up to ∼6 mm from the Y interface, while the Y-rich alloy showed no hydride formation despite high hydrogen loading (400 wppm). Both APT and SIMS confirmed preferential D enrichment in Y-rich regions. These findings offer direct evidence of Y-driven hydrogen gettering under realistic thermal conditions.
