Radiotracer atoms (195Au) that were produced by the radioactive decay of implanted 195Hg ions were used to study the diffusivity of Au in amorphous samples by means of serial Ar+-beam sectioning. A study was also made of the diffusion of Pt in Pt-doped amorphous material. The Au diffusivity data were explained in terms of a process in which the diffusing 195Au atoms were temporarily trapped by various types of vacancy-like defect. These traps could be saturated with Au or H. Their nature and concentration were found to change as a result of annealing-induced structural relaxation of the amorphous samples.

W.Frank, W.Gustin, M.Horz: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 1996, 205-207[1], 208-11