Mitigated blistering and deuterium retention in tungsten exposed to high-flux deuterium–neon mixed plasmas

Surface morphology and deuterium retention in tungsten exposed at surface temperature of 550 K to mixed deuterium–neon plasmas of different neon concentrations are investigated. It is found that the addition of neon up to 20% mitigates blistering on the surface. Cross-section view of the surface shows the formation of pores near the surface in the depth less than 100 nm. Deuterium depth profile is featured by an enhanced deuterium concentration within a depth of 16 nm but a mitigated penetration in depth larger than 1 µ m. Deuterium retention is reduced by up to a factor of four. It is suggested the open pores formed in the surface serves as an escaping channel, mitigates deuterium penetration towards bulk and retention in the bulk.