STM/AFM studies of the evolution of morphology of electroplated Ni/W alloys

The surface morphology evolution of Ni/W alloys was studied, as a function of the alloy composition. Using the modified plating baths developed in our laboratory recently, electroplated Ni/W alloys with different W content, in the range of 7–67 atom percent (a/o), can be obtained. This was found to lead to different structures, ranging from polycrystalline fcc-Ni type structure to amorphous, followed by orthorhombic with increasing W content in the alloy. Powder XRD was studied to determine the crystal structures. Ex situ STM, AFM and SEM were used to study in detail the surface morphologies of the different alloys, and their evolution with increasing W content.

The important findings are that a mixture of two crystalline forms can give rise to an amorphous structure. Hillocks that are usually a characteristic of epitaxial growth can also exist in the amorphous alloys. Oriented scratches caused by stress can also be formed.

Up to 20 a/o of W is deposited in the alloys in crystalline form, with the fcc-Ni type structure. Between 20 and about 40 a/o an amorphous structure is observed, and above that an orthorhombic crystal structure is seen, which is characteristic of the NiW binary alloy. Careful choice of the composition of the plating bath allowed us to deposit an alloy containing 67 a/o W, which corresponds to the composition NiW₂.     

Effects of nickel on the crystallization of Zr70Cu20Ni10 amorphous alloy

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) are employed to investigate the effects of nickel on the crystallization of the amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy. We have found that the crystallization process of the amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy is strongly influenced by the addition of nickel. Addition of 10 at% Ni to the Zr₇₀Cu₃₀ amorphous alloy makes the crystallization process proceed from a single-stage mode to a double-stage mode. The activation energy for crystallization of the amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy is calculated to be about 388kJ·mol^-1 on the basis of the Kissinger equation. The effects of nickel on the crystallization of the amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy are discussed in terms of the genetics of metals.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy study of spin structure and its in-field and temperature dynamics in B2 ordered Fe(Al) alloys

The experimental data from Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements are presented as functions of the temperature and external magnetic field for a B2-type ordered Fe ₆₆ Al ₃₄ alloy.     

Amorphous Fe–Mg alloy thin films: magnetic properties and atomic vibrational dynamics

Amorphous (a-) Fe _x Mg_1?x alloys are interesting materials for the investigation of non-Debye-like low-energy vibrational excitations. We have prepared a-Fe _x Mg_1?x alloy thin films (0.3 ≤ × ≤0.7) by vapour quenching. The amorphous state was confirmed by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy between 4.2–300 K, and the x- and temperature-dependence of the isomer shift and hyperfine magnetic field was measured. For x= 0.6 and 0.7, magnetic ordering occurs below ~150 K. The atomic vibrational density of states, g(E), was determined by nuclear resonant inelastic scattering, providing clear evidence for the non-Debye-like low-energy vibrational excitations.     

Reaction of SbPO4 with lithium in non-aqueous electrochemical cells: preliminary study and evaluation of its electrochemical performance in anodes for lithium ion batteries

SbPO₄, a phosphate with a layered structure, was tested as an electrode material for lithium cells spanning the 3.0-0.0 V range. Two main electrochemical processes were detected as extensive plateaus at ca. 1.6 and 0.7 V in galvanostatic measurements. The first process was found to be irreversible, thus excluding a potential intercalation-like mechanism for the reaction and being better interpreted as a decomposition reaction leading to the formation of elemental Sb. This precludes the use of this compound as a cathodic material for lithium cells. By contrast, the process at 0.7 V is reversible and can be ascribed to the formation of lithium-antimony alloys. The best electrochemical response was obtained by cycling the cell at a C/20 discharge rate over the voltage range 1.25-0.25 V. Under these conditions, the cell delivers an average capacity of 165 Ah/kg—a value greater than those reported for other phosphates—upon successive cycling.     

Microchemical Investigation of Archaeological Copper Based Artefacts Disclosing an Ancient Witness of the Transition from the Value of the Substance to the Value of the Appearance

In many Italian archaeological sites dated between the sixth and third centuries BC, unworked lumps of Cu-based materials are sometimes found, the so called Aes Rude, which according to archaeological considerations were appreciated as currency, as a medium of exchange and as a form of saving. The microchemical investigation of these ancient artefacts discloses their nature as apparently not usable for any functional applications or possible use. Indeed, Aes Rude resemble ordinary copper material, but microchemical results indicate that they are constituted by highly ferruginous leaded copper, making them useless for producing other metal objects by means of casting or hot and cold working. Notwithstanding this intrinsic negative feature, the production of these intractable Cu-based alloys was deliberately carried out to maximise the process yield in terms of produced metal from an impure and unselected metal ore by tailoring the smelting process parameters. With these considerations in mind, the microchemical investigation of these ancient iron–copper alloys gives evidence of the passage from the acceptance of an artefact value based on its true nature or potential use to the acceptance of the value based only on its appearance or form irrespective of its present or future use. This information could contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of human thought and economic and social interactions.     

Magnetotransport and magnetic properties of InAs/Mn digital alloys

We have investigated the magnetic and magneto-transport properties of a systematic sequence of five InAs/Mn digital alloys grown by a combination of molecular beam epitaxy and atomic layer epitaxy. The samples consist of 30 periods of Mn fractional monolayers (ML) (0.17–0.5 ML) separated by 14 ML thick InAs spacer layers in a superlattice configuration. Four samples show n-type electrical conduction while the fifth (0.25 ML Mn) is p-type. Squid magnetization measurements performed on these samples show remnant magnetization above room temperature, which is apparently related to a second phase.     

Coexisting antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetism in mechanically alloyed Fe-rich Fe–Ni alloys: implications regarding the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C

Fe–Ni alloys below the Invar region with compositions Fe_100−xNi_x (x=21, 24, and 27 at%) were prepared by high-energy ball milling technique (mechanical alloying). The as-milled samples, characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, contain a mixture of (BCC) and γ (FCC) phases, whereas the samples annealed at 650°C for 0.5 h show a single γ (FCC) phase displaying a single line Mössbauer spectrum at room temperature (RT). At low temperature, the Mössbauer spectra of annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ and Fe₇₃Ni₂₇ alloys show the existence of a magnetically split pattern together with a broad singlet, which are ascribed to a high-moment ferromagnetic Ni-rich phase and a low-moment Fe-rich phase, respectively. The Fe-rich phase in annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ alloy, which is paramagnetic at RT, undergoes antiferromagnetic ordering at 40 K, estimated from the dramatic line broadening of its spectrum, giving rise to a small hyperfine field (e.g. 2 T at 6 K). The coexistence of these phases is attributed to phase segregation occurring in these alloys as a result of enhanced atomic diffusion. The stability of these alloys towards martensitic (FCC→BCC) transformation at low temperatures is discussed in connection with the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C.     

稀土及杂质元素对ZA27合金晶间腐蚀的影响

为了从本质上了解杂质与稀土元素对锌铝合金晶间腐蚀的影响 ,探索抑制合金晶间腐蚀的有效途径 ,依据晶界的大角度重位点阵理论编制出相应计算机软件 ,建立含稀土、杂质及 η相颗粒的α相大角度晶界原子集团模型 ,采用递归法计算了α相晶界间的电荷转移 ,由此讨论了杂质 (Pb、Sn、Cd)及稀土元素 (La、Y)对Zn、Al电极电位的影响 .结果表明 ,杂质Pb、Sn、Cd增大原子间的电荷转移量 ,提高Zn、Al电极电位差 ,加速合金的腐蚀 ,稀土元素减小原子间的电荷转移量 ,降低Zn、Al电极电位差 ,具有抑制晶间腐蚀的作用 .     

Theoretical investigation of Mössbauer hyperfine interactions in ordered FeNi and disordered Fe–Ni alloys

Electronic structure spin-polarized calculations were performed for 79-atoms embedded clusters representing the ordered intermetallic compound FeNi, the fcc Fe-rich disordered alloy Fe₈₅Ni₁₅ in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) configuration, and the ferromagnetic (FM) disordered alloy Fe₅₀Ni₅₀. The spin-polarized discrete variational method (DVM) in Density Functional theory was employed. Spin magnetic moments, as well as the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer hyperfine parameters isomer shift and magnetic hyperfine fields, were obtained from the calculations. For FM Fe₅₀Ni₅₀, the effect of pressure on the hyperfine field and on the isomer shift was investigated, for three different local atomic configurations surrounding the ⁵⁷Fe probe atom. In the case of the isomer shift, the calculated values were compared to reported experimental data.