Title
Observation of η-Al41Sm5 reveals motif-aware structural evolution in Al-Sm alloys
Publication Date
4-30-2019
Department
Ames Laboratory; Materials Science and Engineering; Physics and Astronomy
Campus Units
Materials Science and Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, Ames Laboratory
OSTI ID+
1515002
Report Number
IS-J 9828; IS-J 9813
DOI
10.1038/s41598-019-43079-9
Journal Title
Scientific Reports
Volume Number
9
Issue Number
1
First Page
6692
Abstract
Using an effective genetic algorithm, we uncover the structure of a metastable Al41Sm5 phase that supplements its family sharing similar short-range orders. The phase evolves upon heating an amorphous Al-9.7 at.% Sm ribbon, produced by melt-spinning. The dynamical phase selection is discussed with respect to the structural connections between the short-range packing motifs in the amorphous precursor and those observed in the selected phases. The phase elucidated here is one of several newly discovered large-unit-cell phases found to form during devitrification from the glass in this binary system, further illustrating the power and efficiency of our approach, the important role of structural hierarchy in phase selection, and the richness of the metastable phase landscape accessible from the glassy structure.
DOE Contract Number(s)
AC02-07CH11358
Language
en
Publisher
Iowa State University Digital Repository, Ames IA (United States)