Enhanced oxidation resistance in refractory niobium by surface Ti⁺/Si⁺ implantation

Massive oxides growth during service inevitably degrade the performance of oxygen sensitive refractory metals. Here, we propose to improve the oxidation resistance of niobium by surface implantation of Ti⁺ and Si⁺. After oxidation, oxides in niobium not only form at topmost surface, but also massively grow along {100} planes. In contrast, oxides at top surface can be efficiently suppressed by implantation of Ti⁺ and Si⁺. No detectable oxides were formed after Si⁺ implantation, while some laminated oxides bundles can still be detected in Ti⁺ implanted sample, indicating Si⁺ has a stronger effect in improving oxidation resistance.