Abstract: Rational synthesis of nanowires via the vaporliquidsolid (VLS) mechanism with compositional and structural controls is vitally important for fabricating functional nanodevices from bottom up. Here, we show that branched indium tin oxide nanowires can be in situ seeded in vapor transport growth using tailored AuCu alloys as catalyst. Furthermore, we demonstrate that VLS synthesis gives unprecedented freedom to navigate the ternary InSnO phase diagram, and a rare and bulk-unstable cubic phase can be selectively stabilized in nanowires. The stabilized cubic fluorite phase possesses an unusual almost equimolar concentration of In and Sn, forming a defect-free epitaxial interface with the conventional bixbyite phase of tin-doped indium oxide that is the most employed transparent conducting oxide. This rational methodology of selecting phases and making abrupt axial heterojunctions in nanowires presents advantages over the conventional synthesis routes, promising novel composition-modulated nanomaterials.

Abstract: The atomic configurations at macrotwin interfaces between microtwinned martensite plates in Ni65Al35 material are investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The observed structures are interpreted in view of possible formation mechanisms for these interfaces. A distinction is made between cases in which the microtwins, originating from mutually perpendicular {110} austenite planes, enclose a final angle larger or smaller than 90degrees. Two different configurations, a crossing and a step type are described. Depending on the actual case, tapering, bending and tip splitting of the smaller microtwinvariants are observed. The most reproducible deformations occur in a region of approximately 5-10 nm width around the interface while a variety of structural defects are observed further away from the interface. These structures and deformations are interpreted in terms of the coalescence of two separately nucleated microtwinned martensite plates and the need to accommodate remaining stresses. (C) 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Microstructural investigations with transmission electron microscopy were carried out on quenched Ni-Ti alloys with 52 and 54.5 at% Ni. For the Ni52Ti48 specimen long time exposed diffraction patterns of a single grain show besides the expected reflections of the B2-phase, two sets of extra reflections in different zones. The first type of spots is explained by lattice displacement waves, which are regarded as precursors of the martensitic Ni-Ti phases, B 19' and R-phase, respectively. The second set of reflection with more diffuse intensity than the other reflections is related to Ni4Ti3 precipitates in an early state of formation. For the Ni-richer Ni54.5Ti45.5 alloy only Ni4Ti3 precipitates in an early state of formation are found but no precursors of the B 19'- and R-phase.