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Title: Predicting phase behavior of grain boundaries with evolutionary search and machine learning

Journal Article · · Nature Communications

The study of grain boundary phase transitions is an emerging field until recently dominated by experiments. The major bottleneck in the exploration of this phenomenon with atomistic modeling has been the lack of a robust computational tool that can predict interface structure. Here we develop a computational tool based on evolutionary algorithms that performs efficient grand-canonical grain boundary structure search and we design a clustering analysis that automatically identifies different grain boundary phases. Its application to a model system of symmetric tilt boundaries in Cu uncovers an unexpected rich polymorphism in the grain boundary structures. We find new ground and metastable states by exploring structures with different atomic densities. Our results demonstrate that the grain boundaries within the entire misorientation range have multiple phases and exhibit structural transitions, suggesting that phase behavior of interfaces is likely a general phenomenon.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344; NA0001982
OSTI ID:
1466176
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-735504; 887780
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 137 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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A genetic algorithm for predicting the structures of interfaces in multicomponent systems journal February 2010
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Machine learning in materials science journal August 2019
Nanomaterials Discovery and Design through Machine Learning journal January 2019
Local electronic descriptors for solute-defect interactions in bcc refractory metals journal October 2019
Recent advances and applications of machine learning in solid-state materials science journal August 2019
Determining interface structures in vertically aligned nanocomposite films journal June 2019
Deep neural network method for predicting the mechanical properties of composites journal October 2019
Element proportion effect on internal stress from interfaces and other microstructural components in Cu–Pb alloys journal April 2019
Dislocation content in random high angle grain boundaries journal April 2019
Linear Complexions: Metastable Phase Formation and Coexistence at Dislocations journal March 2019
Free energy of grain boundary phases: Atomistic calculations for Σ 5 ( 310 ) [ 001 ] grain boundary in Cu journal September 2018
Application of Machine Learning to Predict Grain Boundary Embrittlement in Metals by Combining Bonding-Breaking and Atomic Size Effects journal January 2020
Grain Boundary Complexions and Phase Transformations in Al- and Cu-Based Alloys journal December 2018
Alloying Element Segregation and Grain Boundary Reconstruction, Atomistic Modeling journal December 2019
Determining interface structures in vertically aligned nanocomposite films text January 2019
Grain Boundary Complexions and Phase Transformations in Al- and Cu-Based Alloys text January 2019
Grain boundary phases in bcc metals preprint January 2017
Local electronic descriptors for solute-defect interactions in bcc refractory metals journal October 2019
Application of Machine Learning to Predict Grain Boundary Embrittlement in Metals by Combining Bonding-Breaking and Atomic Size Effects journal January 2020