Abstract: The structure and texture formation in CuAlNi thin films of different thicknesses (1 μm to 5 μm) grown by DC magnetron sputtering without any intentional heating of the substrate are reported. The as-grown films present grains with an average size of 20 nm. The films with thickness of 1 μm have a single metastable phase with a hexagonal structure and are textured with planes (0002) parallel to the plane of the films. It was observed that thicker films present phase coexistence between metastable hexagonal and body centered cubic structures with a gradual increment of the body centered cubic phase fraction. The films with thickness of 5 μm are textured with planes (0002) and View the MathML source101¯0 in the hexagonal structure, whereas in the body centered cubic structure the films are textured with {110} planes parallel to the plane of the films. This fact can be associated with self-heating of the substrate during the growth of the films and with the relative stability of the metastable phases. Free standing films annealed in a second step (1123 K for 1 h) present austenitic phase with L21 structure and sub-micrometric grains textured with {220}L21 planes parallel to the plane of the films. The martensitic transformation temperature was determined from the analysis of resistance against temperature measurements.

Abstract: In the present work, the microstructure and structure of La(0.25)Ce(0.52)Nd(0.17)Pr(0.06)(OH)(3) and La(0.25)Ce(0.52)Nd(0.17)Pr(0.06)O(2) is obtained from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Space group P6(3)/m is assigned to the structure of La(0.25)Ce(0.52)Nd(0.17)Pr(0.06)(OH)(3). Lanthanides are assigned to Wyckoff positions 2c. Cell parameters are a=6.375(5) angstrom and c=3.753(5) angstrom. The thermal decomposition of this compound was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The process is exothermal with an enthalpy change Delta H degrees value of -254 +/- 10 kJ mol(-1). The decomposition kinetics is complex and two global processes with E(a) values of 98 +/- 4 and 61 +/- 2 kJ mol 21 were observed. The product is a lanthanide dioxide. Space group Fm3m is assigned to the La(0.25)Ce(0.52)Nd(0.17)Pr(0.06)O(2). Lanthanides are distributed in Wyckoff positions 4a. The cell parameter is a=5.479(5) angstrom. Nanopores in the oxide surface are obtained using this method and characterised by STEM measurements.

Abstract: The precipitation of a disordered FCC surface structure after low angle Ga+ ion irradiation during focused ion beam thinning of a B2 Cu-Zn-Al alloy with e/a=1.48 is reported. Conventional as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques reveal FCC layers on both sides of the thinned sample. The occurrence of this structure is attributed to disordering and dezincification of the alloy resulting from the sputtering process during the irradiation. Changes in crystallographic sample orientation with respect to the incoming ion beam do not have a significant effect on the appearance of the FCC surface structure.

Abstract: The effects produced by swift heavy ions in the martensitic (18R) and austenitic phase (beta) of Cu based shape memory alloys were characterized. Single crystal samples with a surface normal close to [210](18R) and [001](beta) were irradiated with 200 MeV of Kr(15+), 230 MeV of Xe(15+), 350 and 600 MeV of Au(26+) and Au(29+). Changes in the microstructure were studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It was found that swift heavy ion irradiation induced nanometer sized defects in the 18R martensitic phase. In contrast, a hexagonal close-packed phase formed on the irradiated surface of beta phase samples. HRTEM images of the nanometer sized defects observed in the 18R martensitic phase were compared with computer simulated images in order to interpret the origin of the observed contrast. The best agreement was obtained when the defects were assumed to consist of local composition modulations.