First principles investigation of cluster consisting of hydrogen–helium atoms interstitially-trapped in tungsten

Abstract We evaluate the binding energies of mixed helium and hydrogen clusters consisted of interstitially trapped atoms in bcc tungsten by first-principles calculations based on density functional theories. It is shown that helium-rich interstitially-trapped clusters have the positive binding energies and the low electron-density region expand as the number of helium in the cluster increase. Thus, the helium-rich interstitially trapped clusters can act as a trapping site for hydrogen, and interstitially trapped helium interrupts or disturbs the hydrogen diffusion in tungsten.