Radiation-induced electrical conductivity in aluminium nitride ceramic

Abstract The electrical conductivity of aluminium nitride ceramics, doped with 8 wt% Y 3 O 3 and obtained from fine raw powders synthesized in plasma, was measured with and without gamma-neutron irradiation (the maximum fast neutron flux was 3×10 15 n/m 2  s and in the gamma-dose rate range of 10 3 –10 6 Gy/h) in the temperature range of 40–400°C. The electrical conductivity at room temperature was 10 −12 S/m and temperature-induced increase of conductivity has an activation energy of 1.06 eV at a temperature range of above 160°C. Radiation-induced conductivity obeys the usual power law dependence on gamma-ray dose rate. The electrical conductivity at high dose rate is less than 10 −6 S/m and is little dependent on temperature.