One-step sputtering of MoSSe metastable phase as thin film and predicted thermodynamic stability by computational methods.

We present the fabrication of a MoSSe thin film from a co-sputtering process using MoS and MoSe commercial targets with 99.9% purity. The sputtering of the MoS and MoSe was carried out using a straight and low-cost magnetron radio frequency sputtering recipe to achieve a MoSSe phase with x = 1 and sharp interface formation as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy.

The Piezoresponse in WO Thin Films Due to N-Filled Nanovoids Enrichment by Atom Probe Tomography.

Tungsten trioxide (WO) is a versatile -type semiconductor with outstanding chromogenic properties highly used to fabricate sensors and electrochromic devices. We present a comprehensive experimental study related to piezoresponse with piezoelectric coefficient = 35 pmV on WO thin films ~200 nm deposited using RF-sputtering onto alumina (AlO) substrate with post-deposit annealing treatment of 400 °C in a 3% H/N-forming gas environment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms a mixture of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of WO with domains with different polarization orientations and hysteresis behavior as observed by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM).

The influence of lattice misfit on screw and edge dislocation-controlled solid solution strengthening in Mo-Ti alloys.

Mo-Ti alloys form solid solutions over a wide range of compositions, with lattice misfit parameters increasing significantly with titanium content. This indicates a strong increase in the critical stress for edge dislocation motion. Here, we probe the transition from screw to edge dislocation-dominated strengthening in Mo-Ti solid solutions with titanium content up to 80 at%.

Formation and thermal stability of two-phase microstructures in Al-containing refractory compositionally complex alloys.

Phase separation into an A2+B2 two-phase microstructure in refractory compositionally complex alloys (RCCA) has been speculated as being spinodal in nature with continuous chemical distribution during the separation. However, these reactions might instead occur as precipitation by nucleation and growth. In order to unequivocally elucidate the distinct nature of phase separation sequence in RCCA from the system Ta-Mo-Ti-Cr-Al, atom probe tomography and electron microscopy techniques were utilized on samples that were annealed over multiple orders of magnitude in time.

Microstructural changes in CoCrFeMnNi under mild tribological load.

The lack of a principle element in high-entropy alloys (HEA) leads to unique and unexpected material properties. Tribological loading of metallic materials often results in deformed subsurface layers. As the microstructure feedbacks with friction forces, the microstructural evolution is highly dynamic and complex.