An ion-driven permeation method was used, in which the implantation of energetic ions was used instead of gaseous or electrochemical charging. In general, the temporal behavior of permeation which was induced in this way was similar to that of permeation which was produced by using other methods. However, the steady-state permeation rate and the diffusion coefficient tended to decrease, with increasing implantation time or fluence, because of bombardment-induced changes in the surface. The diffusion coefficients which were deduced from the initial increase in permeation rate of an annealed specimen were considered to be reliable. It was found that the results, at temperatures of between 500 and 1100K, could be described by:

D (m2/s) = 1.4 x 10-6 exp[-35.7(kJ/mol)/RT]

The results did not appear to be affected by surface oxides.

Determination of Deuterium Diffusion Coefficient in Metals by Ion Driven Permeation Technique. T.Tanabe, Y.Furuyama, N.Saitoh, S.Imoto: Transactions of the Japan Institute of Metals, 1987, 28[9], 706-14. See also: Journal of the Japan Institute of Metals, 1986, 50[8], 688-94