Comparison of amorphous and liquid palladium-silicon alloys

The Pd_82,5Si_17,5 alloy has been investigated by X-ray diffraction in an amorphous state obtained by rapid quenching from the liquid state and also in the liquid state at a temperature just above T_f. The differences seen in the interference functions obtained relative to both states are not only due to a temperature effect. From the two atomic radial distribution functions it was possible to evaluate the Pd–Pd distances and the Pd–Si distances as well as the number of nearest neighbours. These distances have the same values, but the displacements of the atoms are more important in the liquid. The contribution of Pd–Pd bonds, for the metal-metal distances equal to 1.65 times the particle diameter, decreases in the liquid.