Phase transformation induced by ion implantation in cubic stabilized zirconia

Cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia possesses a high stability against radiation. No amorphization of this material has been observed, even at high ion fluences leading to the production of a large amount of defects. Nevertheless irradiation with energetic particles may induce microstructural evolutions and phase transformations. In the present paper we demonstrate that a cubic-to-rhombohedral phase transformation occurs in yttria-stabilized zirconia implanted with He ions. This transformation consists in a rhombohedral deformation of the cubic cell along the 〈1 1 1〉 directions due to residual stresses induced by implantation.