Combinatorial Synthesis and High-Throughput Characterization of Microstructure and Phase Transformation in Ni–Ti–Cu–V Quaternary Thin-Film Library

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2020.05.003· OSTI ID:1647628

Al Hasan, Naila M. ^[1]; Hou, Huilong ^[1]; Sarkar, Suchismita ^[2]; Thienhaus, Sigurd ^[3]; Mehta, Apurva ^[2]; Ludwig, Alfred ^[3]; Takeuchi, Ichiro ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
2. SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)
3. Ruhr Univ., Bochum (Germany). Werkstoffe der Mikrotechnik

Ni–Ti–based shape memory alloys (SMAs) have found widespread use in the last 70 years, but improving their functional stability remains a key quest for more robust and advanced applications. Named for their ability to retain their processed shape as a result of a reversible martensitic transformation, SMAs are highly sensitive to compositional variations. Alloying with ternary and quaternary elements to fine-tune the lattice parameters and the thermal hysteresis of an SMA, therefore, becomes a challenge in materials exploration. Combinatorial materials science allows streamlining of the synthesis process and data management from multiple characterization techniques. In this study, a composition spread of Ni–Ti–Cu–V thin-film library was synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering on a thermally oxidized Si wafer. Composition-dependent phase transformation temperature and microstructure were investigated and determined using high-throughput wavelength dispersive spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and temperature-dependent resistance measurements. Of the 177 compositions in the materials library, 32 were observed to have shape memory effect, of which five had zero or near-zero thermal hysteresis. These compositions provide flexibility in the operating temperature regimes that they can be used in. A phase map for the quaternary system and correlations of functional properties are discussed with respect to the local microstructure and composition of the thin-film library.

• Research Organization: SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515; DGE-1322106
• OSTI ID: 1647628
• Journal Information: Engineering, Vol. 6, Issue 6; ISSN 2095-8099
• Publisher: Engineering Sciences Press
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
Ni–Ti–Cu–V alloys
combinatorial materials science
quaternary alloys
shape memory alloys
thin-film library
elastocaloric cooling
thermoelastic cooling
phase transformation
high-throughput characterization
property mapping
machine learning