1
|
Meindlhumer M, Klima S, Jäger N, Stark A, Hruby H, Mitterer C, Keckes J, Daniel R. Stress-controlled decomposition routes in cubic AlCrN films assessed by in-situ high-temperature high-energy grazing incidence transmission X-ray diffraction. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18027. [PMID: 31792305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54307-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The dependence of decomposition routes on intrinsic microstructure and stress in nanocrystalline transition metal nitrides is not yet fully understood. In this contribution, three Al0.7Cr0.3N thin films with residual stress magnitudes of −3510, −4660 and −5930 MPa in the as-deposited state were in-situ characterized in the range of 25–1100 °C using in-situ synchrotron high-temperature high-energy grazing-incidence-transmission X-ray diffraction and temperature evolutions of phases, coefficients of thermal expansion, structural defects, texture as well as residual, thermal and intrinsic stresses were evaluated. The multi-parameter experimental data indicate a complex intrinsic stress and phase changes governed by a microstructure recovery and phase transformations taking place above the deposition temperature. Though the decomposition temperatures of metastable cubic Al0.7Cr0.3N phase in the range of 698–914 °C are inversely proportional to the magnitudes of deposition temperatures, the decomposition process itself starts at the same stress level of ~−4300 MPa in all three films. This phenomenon indicates that the particular compressive stress level functions as an energy threshold at which the diffusion driven formation of hexagonal Al(Cr)N phase is initiated, provided sufficient temperature is applied. In summary, the unique synchrotron experimental setup indicated that residual stresses play a decisive role in the decomposition routes of nanocrystalline transition metal nitrides.
Collapse
|
2
|
Almyras GA, Sangiovanni DG, Sarakinos K. Semi-Empirical Force-Field Model for the Ti 1-xAl xN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) System. Materials (Basel) 2019; 12:E215. [PMID: 30634593 PMCID: PMC6356630 DOI: 10.3390/ma12020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We present a modified embedded atom method (MEAM) semi-empirical force-field model for the Ti1-xAlxN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloy system. The MEAM parameters, determined via an adaptive simulated-annealing (ASA) minimization scheme, optimize the model's predictions with respect to 0 K equilibrium volumes, elastic constants, cohesive energies, enthalpies of mixing, and point-defect formation energies, for a set of ≈40 elemental, binary, and ternary Ti-Al-N structures and configurations. Subsequently, the reliability of the model is thoroughly verified against known finite-temperature thermodynamic and kinetic properties of key binary Ti-N and Al-N phases, as well as properties of Ti1-xAlxN (0 < x < 1) alloys. The successful outcome of the validation underscores the transferability of our model, opening the way for large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of, e.g., phase evolution, interfacial processes, and mechanical response in Ti-Al-N-based alloys, superlattices, and nanostructures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G A Almyras
- Nanoscale Engineering Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - D G Sangiovanni
- Atomistic Modelling and Simulation, ICAMS, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany.
- Theoretical Physics Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - K Sarakinos
- Nanoscale Engineering Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, SE 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
|
4
|
Abstract
This study covers the experimentally observed modifications of AlN, investigates their relations and searches for new possible modifications combining data mining and ab initio methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Zagorac
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinča
- Centre of Excellence-CextremeLab
- Belgrade University
- Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - D. Zagorac
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinča
- Centre of Excellence-CextremeLab
- Belgrade University
- Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - M. Rosić
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinča
- Centre of Excellence-CextremeLab
- Belgrade University
- Belgrade
- Serbia
| | - J. C. Schön
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
- Stuttgart
- Germany
| | - B. Matović
- Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinča
- Centre of Excellence-CextremeLab
- Belgrade University
- Belgrade
- Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Poncé S, Gillet Y, Laflamme Janssen J, Marini A, Verstraete M, Gonze X. Temperature dependence of the electronic structure of semiconductors and insulators. J Chem Phys 2015; 143:102813. [PMID: 26374006 DOI: 10.1063/1.4927081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The renormalization of electronic eigenenergies due to electron-phonon coupling (temperature dependence and zero-point motion effect) is sizable in many materials with light atoms. This effect, often neglected in ab initio calculations, can be computed using the perturbation-based Allen-Heine-Cardona theory in the adiabatic or non-adiabatic harmonic approximation. After a short description of the recent progresses in this field and a brief overview of the theory, we focus on the issue of phonon wavevector sampling convergence, until now poorly understood. Indeed, the renormalization is obtained numerically through a slowly converging q-point integration. For non-zero Born effective charges, we show that a divergence appears in the electron-phonon matrix elements at q → Γ, leading to a divergence of the adiabatic renormalization at band extrema. This problem is exacerbated by the slow convergence of Born effective charges with electronic wavevector sampling, which leaves residual Born effective charges in ab initio calculations on materials that are physically devoid of such charges. Here, we propose a solution that improves this convergence. However, for materials where Born effective charges are physically non-zero, the divergence of the renormalization indicates a breakdown of the adiabatic harmonic approximation, which we assess here by switching to the non-adiabatic harmonic approximation. Also, we study the convergence behavior of the renormalization and develop reliable extrapolation schemes to obtain the converged results. Finally, the adiabatic and non-adiabatic theories, with corrections for the slow Born effective charge convergence problem (and the associated divergence) are applied to the study of five semiconductors and insulators: α-AlN, β-AlN, BN, diamond, and silicon. For these five materials, we present the zero-point renormalization, temperature dependence, phonon-induced lifetime broadening, and the renormalized electronic band structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Poncé
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility and Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des étoiles 8, bte L07.03.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium
| | - Y Gillet
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility and Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des étoiles 8, bte L07.03.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium
| | - J Laflamme Janssen
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility and Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des étoiles 8, bte L07.03.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium
| | - A Marini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.3, CP 10, 00016 Monterotondo Stazione, Italy
| | - M Verstraete
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility and Physique des matériaux et nanostructures, Université de Liège, Allée du 6 Août 17, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - X Gonze
- European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility and Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Chemin des étoiles 8, bte L07.03.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mayrhofer P, Sonnleitner D, Bartosik M, Holec D. Structural and mechanical evolution of reactively and non-reactively sputtered Zr-Al-N thin films during annealing. Surf Coat Technol 2014; 244:52-56. [PMID: 24748705 PMCID: PMC3990427 DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The influence of reactive and non-reactive sputtering on structure, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of Zr1 - xAlxN thin films during annealing to 1500 °C is investigated in detail. Reactive sputtering of a Zr0.6Al0.4 target leads to the formation of Zr0.66Al0.34N thin films, mainly composed of supersaturated cubic (c) Zr1 - xAlxN with small fractions of (semi-)coherent wurtzite (w) AlN domains. Upon annealing, the formation of cubic Zr-rich domains and growth of the (semi-)coherent w-AlN domains indicate spinodal-like decomposition. Loss of coherency can only be observed for annealing temperatures above 1150 °C. Following these decomposition processes, the hardness remains at the as-deposited value of ~ 29 GPa with annealing up to 1100 °C. Using a ceramic (ZrN)0.6(AlN)0.4 target and sputtering in Ar atmosphere allows preparing c-Zr0.68Al0.32N coatings with a well-defined crystalline single-phase cubic structure combined with higher hardnesses of ~ 31 GPa. Due to the absence of (semi-)coherent w-AlN domains in the as-deposited state, which could act as nucleation sites, the decomposition process of c-Zr1 - xAlxN is retarded. Only after annealing at 1270 °C, the formation of incoherent w-AlN can be detected. Hence, their hardness remains very high with ~ 33 GPa even after annealing at 1200 °C. The study highlights the importance of controlling the deposition process to prepare well-defined coatings with high mechanical properties and thermal stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P.H. Mayrhofer
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, Vienna University of Technology, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - D. Sonnleitner
- Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing, Montanuniversität Leoben, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
| | - M. Bartosik
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, Vienna University of Technology, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - D. Holec
- Department of Physical Metallurgy and Materials Testing, Montanuniversität Leoben, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abrikosov IA, Knutsson A, Alling B, Tasnádi F, Lind H, Hultman L, Odén M. Phase Stability and Elasticity of TiAlN. Materials (Basel) 2011; 4:1599-1618. [PMID: 28824159 PMCID: PMC5448856 DOI: 10.3390/ma4091599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2011] [Revised: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We review results of recent combined theoretical and experimental studies of Ti1−xAlxN, an archetypical alloy system material for hard-coating applications. Theoretical simulations of lattice parameters, mixing enthalpies, and elastic properties are presented. Calculated phase diagrams at ambient pressure, as well as at pressure of 10 GPa, show a wide miscibility gap and broad region of compositions and temperatures where the spinodal decomposition takes place. The strong dependence of the elastic properties and sound wave anisotropy on the Al-content offers detailed understanding of the spinodal decomposition and age hardening in Ti1−xAlxN alloy films and multilayers. TiAlN/TiN multilayers can further improve the hardness and thermal stability compared to TiAlN since they offer means to influence the kinetics of the favorable spinodal decomposition and suppress the detrimental transformation to w-AlN. Here, we show that a 100 degree improvement in terms of w-AlN suppression can be achieved, which is of importance when the coating is used as a protective coating on metal cutting inserts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor A Abrikosov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Axel Knutsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Björn Alling
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Ferenc Tasnádi
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Hans Lind
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Lars Hultman
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| | - Magnus Odén
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Usman Z, Cao C, Nabi G, Kun DY, Khan WS, Mehmood T, Hussain S. First-Principle Electronic, Elastic, and Optical Study of Cubic Gallium Nitride. J Phys Chem A 2011; 115:6622-8. [DOI: 10.1021/jp201495e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zahid Usman
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuanbao Cao
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dou Yan Kun
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Waheed S. Khan
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tariq Mehmood
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sajad Hussain
- Research Centre of Materials Science, School of Material Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yong-Liang W, Qiong A, Xiang-Rong C, Ling-Cang C. Structural and thermodynamic properties of wurtzite-type aluminium nitride from first-principles calculations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1088/1009-1963/16/12/038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
10
|
Hu X, Yu X, Lao J, Li G, Gu M. Formation of metastable c-AlN and its effect on the mechanical properties of AlN/(Ti,Al)N nanoscale multilayers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003; 21:2411. [DOI: 10.1116/1.1624270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
11
|
Kim K, Lambrecht WR, Segall B. Elastic constants and related properties of tetrahedrally bonded BN, AlN, GaN, and InN. Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1996; 53:16310-16326. [PMID: 9983469 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.53.16310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
|
12
|
Brus LE, Harkless JAW, Stillinger FH. Theoretical Metastability of Semiconductor Crystallites in High-Pressure Phases, with Application to β-Tin Structure Silicon. J Am Chem Soc 1996. [DOI: 10.1021/ja954166p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. E. Brus
- Contribution from AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974-0636
| | - J. A. W. Harkless
- Contribution from AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974-0636
| | - F. H. Stillinger
- Contribution from AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974-0636
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
|
14
|
Christensen NE, Gorczyca I. Optical and structural properties of III-V nitrides under pressure. Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1994; 50:4397-4415. [PMID: 9976740 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.50.4397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
|
15
|
|
16
|
Ueno M, Yoshida M, Onodera A, Shimomura O, Takemura K. Stability of the wurtzite-type structure under high pressure: GaN and InN. Phys Rev B Condens Matter 1994; 49:14-21. [PMID: 10009251 DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.49.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
|