Nanoscale Structure, Dynamics, and Aging Behavior of Metallic Glass Thin Films

J A J Burgess; C M B Holt; E J Luber; D C Fortin; G Popowich; B Zahiri; P Concepcion; D Mitlin; M R Freeman

doi:10.1038/srep30973

Nanoscale Structure, Dynamics, and Aging Behavior of Metallic Glass Thin Films

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 8:6:30973. doi: 10.1038/srep30973.

Authors

J A J Burgess^{1

2}, C M B Holt^{1

3}, E J Luber^{1

4}, D C Fortin², G Popowich², B Zahiri^{1

3}, P Concepcion¹, D Mitlin^{1

3

5}, M R Freeman^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ National Institute for Nanotechnology, Edmonton, Canada.
² University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Edmonton, Canada.
³ University of Alberta, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Edmonton, Canada.
⁴ University of Alberta, Department of Chemistry, Edmonton, Canada.
⁵ Clarkson University, Chemical &Biomolecular Engineering, Potsdam, New York, United States.

Abstract

Scanning tunnelling microscopy observations resolve the structure and dynamics of metallic glass Cu100-xHfx films and demonstrate scanning tunnelling microscopy control of aging at a metallic glass surface. Surface clusters exhibit heterogeneous hopping dynamics. Low Hf concentration films feature an aged surface of larger, slower clusters. Argon ion-sputtering destroys the aged configuration, yielding a surface in constant fluctuation. Scanning tunnelling microscopy can locally restore the relaxed state, allowing for nanoscale lithographic definition of aged sections.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't