Electron-irradiation-facilitated production of chemically homogenized nanotwins in nanolaminated carbides
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Twin boundaries have been exploited to stabilize ultrafine grains and improve the mechanical properties of nanomaterials. The production of twin boundaries and nanotwins is however prohibitively challenging in carbide ceramics. Using scanning transmission electron microscopes as a unique platform for atomic-scale structure engineering, we demonstrate that twin platelets could be produced in carbides by engineering antisite defects. Antisite defects at metal sites in various layered ternary carbides are collectively and controllably generated and the metal elements are homogenized by electron irradiation, which transforms the twin-like lamellae into nanotwin platelets. Accompanying the chemical homogenization, α-Ti3AlC2 transforms to unconventional β-Ti3AlC2. The chemical homogeneity and the width of the twin platelets can be tuned by the dose and energy of bombarding electrons. Chemically homogenized nanotwins can boost the hardness by ~45%. Our results provide a new way to produce ultrathin (<5 nm) nanotwin platelets in scientifically and technologically important carbide materials and showcase the feasibility of defect engineering by an angstrom-sized electron probe.
Source: Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Authors: Hui Zhang, Qianqian Jin, Tao Hu, Xiaochun Liu, Zezhong Zhang, Chunfeng Hu, Yanchun Zhou, Yu Han, Xiaohui Wang
Institutions: South China University of Technology, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Changsha University of Science and Technology, University of Antwerp, Southwest Jiaotong University, Zhengzhou University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,372
OpenAlex ID: W4366422914