Anharmonicity changes the solid solubility of an alloy at high temperatures

We have developed a method to accurately and efficiently determine the vibrational free energy as a function of temperature and volume for substitutional alloys from first principles. Taking Ti$_{1-x}$Al$_x$N alloy as a model system, we calculate the isostructural phase diagram by finding the global minimum of the free energy, corresponding to the true equilibrium state of the system. We demonstrate that the anharmonic contribution and temperature dependence of the mixing enthalpy have a decisive impact on the calculated phase diagram of a Ti$_{1-x}$Al$_x$N alloy, lowering the maximum temperature for the miscibility gap from 6560 K to 2860 K. Our local chemical composition measurements on thermally aged Ti$_{0.5}$Al$_{0.5}$N alloys agree with the calculated phase diagram.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, supplementary materia

Temperature-dependent elastic properties of Ti_(1−x)Al_xN alloys

Ti_(1−x)Al_xN is a technologically important alloy that undergoes a process of high temperature age-hardening that is strongly influenced by its elastic properties. We have performed first principles calculations of the elastic constants and anisotropy using the symmetry imposed force constant temperature dependent effective potential method, which include lattice vibrations and therefore the effects of temperature, including thermal expansion and intrinsic anharmonicity. These are compared with in situ high temperature x-ray diffraction measurements of the lattice parameter. We show that anharmonic effects are crucial to the recovery of finite temperature elasticity. The effects of thermal expansion and intrinsic anharmonicity on the elastic constants are of the same order, and cannot be considered separately. Furthermore, the effect of thermal expansion on elastic constants is such that the volume change induced by zero point motion has a significant effect. For TiAlN, the elastic constants soften non-uniformly with temperature: C_(11) decreases substantially when the temperature increases for all compositions, resulting in an increased anisotropy. These findings suggest that an increased Al content and annealing at higher temperatures will result in a harder alloy

Impact of anharmonic effects on the phase stability, thermal transport, and electronic properties of AlN

Wurtzite aluminium nitride (AlN) is a technologically important wide-band-gap semiconductor with an unusually high thermal conductivity, used in optical applications and as a heatsink substrate. Explaining many of its properties depends on an accurate description of its lattice dynamics, which have thus far only been captured in the quasiharmonic approximation. In this work, we show that anharmonic effects have a considerable impact on its phase stability and transport properties, since they are much stronger in the rocksalt phase. We construct a theoretical pressure-temperature phase diagram of AlN, demonstrating that the rocksalt phase is stabilized by increasing temperature, with respect to the wurtzite phase. We recover the thermal conductivity of the wurtzite phase (320Wm^(-1)K^(-1) under ambient conditions) and compute the hitherto unknown thermal conductivity of the rocksalt phase (81Wm^(-1)K^(-1)). We also show that the electronic band gap decreases with temperature. These findings provide further evidence that anharmonic effects cannot be ignored in simulations of materials intended for high-temperature applications

Impact of anharmonic effects on the phase stability, thermal transport, and electronic properties of AlN

Wurtzite aluminium nitride (AlN) is a technologically important wide-band-gap semiconductor with an unusually high thermal conductivity, used in optical applications and as a heatsink substrate. Explaining many of its properties depends on an accurate description of its lattice dynamics, which have thus far only been captured in the quasiharmonic approximation. In this work, we show that anharmonic effects have a considerable impact on its phase stability and transport properties, since they are much stronger in the rocksalt phase. We construct a theoretical pressure-temperature phase diagram of AlN, demonstrating that the rocksalt phase is stabilized by increasing temperature, with respect to the wurtzite phase. We recover the thermal conductivity of the wurtzite phase (320Wm^(-1)K^(-1) under ambient conditions) and compute the hitherto unknown thermal conductivity of the rocksalt phase (81Wm^(-1)K^(-1)). We also show that the electronic band gap decreases with temperature. These findings provide further evidence that anharmonic effects cannot be ignored in simulations of materials intended for high-temperature applications

Lattice Vibrations Change the Solid Solubility of an Alloy at High Temperatures

We develop a method to accurately and efficiently determine the vibrational free energy as a function of temperature and volume for substitutional alloys from first principles. Taking Ti_(1−x)Al_xN alloy as a model system, we calculate the isostructural phase diagram by finding the global minimum of the free energy corresponding to the true equilibrium state of the system. We demonstrate that the vibrational contribution including anharmonicity and temperature dependence of the mixing enthalpy have a decisive impact on the calculated phase diagram of a Ti_(1−x)Al_xN alloy, lowering the maximum temperature for the miscibility gap from 6560 to 2860 K. Our local chemical composition measurements on thermally aged Ti_(0.5)Al_(0.5)N alloys agree with the calculated phase diagram

Glycolaldehyde formation via the dimerization of the formyl radical

Glycolaldehyde, the simplest monosaccharide sugar, has recently been detected in low- and high-mass star-forming cores. Following our previous investigation into glycolaldehyde formation, we now consider a further mechanism for the formation of glycolaldehyde that involves the dimerization of the formyl radical, HCO. Quantum mechanical investigation of the HCO dimerization process upon an ice surface is predicted to be barrierless and therefore fast. In an astrophysical context, we show that this mechanism can be very efficient in star-forming cores. It is limited by the availability of the formyl radical, but models suggest that only very small amounts of CO are required to be converted to HCO to meet the observational constraints