Electron microscopy and elemental composition of the near-surface layer of electron-irradiated LiF crystals

Electron microscopy and optical vibrational spectroscopy techniques have been used to study Li nanoparticles formed on the cleaved surface of lithium fluoride (LiF) crystals irradiated by 4-MeV electron beam to a total fluence of 5$\cdot$10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$. It is suggested that ionization accompanying this intense irradiation leads to radiolysis of the target and removal of fluorine from interblock boundaries, where lithium cations are collected and mutually oriented to form microwires. This functional surface may be of practical interest.