INTERSTITIAL-LIKE DIFFUSION OF COPPER IN LITHIUM

The tracer diffusion of 64Cu in lithium has been measured. The results are expressed by DCuSingle Bond signLi=(0.47±0.11) exp[(-9.22±0.22)/RT] (cm2/sec). Copper diffuses faster than any other hitherto investigated impurity in lithium; close below the melting point D is about 2×10-6 cm2/sec. From the magnitude of the diffusivity, from the systematics among the noble metals, and from parallels with diffusion results in certain polyvalent matrices, it is inferred that Cu, Au, and Ag impurities in Li diffuse as interstitials. © 1969 The American Institute of Physics.