During neutron, ions or electron irradiation of materials, the surface morphology can be microroughened in different forms. Using a tandem accelerator with high current capability, 3.66 MeV Ni and Al ions were implanted into Ni-22at%Si alloy at 650ºC and intoα-Al_2O_3 at 1000ºC, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed surface nanofeatures induced by the irradiations. On the Ni--Si alloy, long parallel channels are formed having a periodicity near to 2μm and a mean depth of 30 nm (atomic force microscopy measurements). Onα-Al_2O_3 nanopyramides with around 50 nm basis length and similar height were detected on some grains forming periodic chains. We assume that preferential sputtering produced both induced surface features.
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