Investigation by STEM-EELS of helium density in nanobubbles formed in aged palladium tritides

3He nanobubbles created by radioactive decay of tritium in palladium tritide are investigated after several years of aging. Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) has been used to measure helium density from the helium K-edge around 23 eV. Helium densities were found between 20 and 140 (+/-30) He/nm3 and the corresponding nanobubble pressures range between 0.1 and 3 (+/-0.2) GPa. Measuring helium density and mapping He atoms by STEM-EELS enables to differentiate bubbles from empty cavities in the palladium tritide matrix.