Papers by Keyword: Misfit Strain

Abstract: The microstructure and strain characteristics of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) were studied by using transmission electron microscopy. Compressive strain was induced to uncapped QDs from GaAs substrate and the misfit strain largely increased after the deposition of GaAs cap layer. Tensile strain outside QD was extended along the vertical growth direction; up to 15 nm above the wetting layer. Vertically nonaligned and aligned stacked QDs were grown by adjusting the thickness of GaAs spacer layers. The QDs with a lens-shaped morphology were formed in the early stage of growth, and their apex was flattened by the out-diffusion of In atoms upon GaAs capping. However, aligned QDs maintained their lens-shaped structure with round apex after capping. It is believed that their apex did not flatten because the chemical potential gradient of In was relatively low due to the adjacent InAs QD layers.

Abstract: We investigated the contribution to the high yield strength due to the solid solution strengthening in nanocrystalline Al-Ti alloys produced by a vapor quench method. The misfit strain due to solute Ti atom in aluminum was obtained from the first principles calculation. Then, the theoretical result of the contribution to the yield strength due to the solid solution strengthening was estimated from the misfit strain using the Friedel’s theory. In dilute Al-Ti alloy, the theoretical results of the solid solution strengthening from the misfit strain was in good agreement with the analytical result using the measured grain size and yield stress.

Abstract: The precipitation processes from G.P. zones to γ’ in a Cu−0.9wt%Be alloy single crystal containing only the G.P. zones parallel to the matrix (001)α plane are investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. The precipitate phases follow a G.P. zone → γ” → γI + γ’ sequence. The G.P. zone to γI phase transformation occurs successively via γ” during aging, while the γ’ phase heterogeneously precipitates on the γI phase. From length-change measurements during aging, the misfit strains of γ’ precipitates in directions perpendicular and parallel to [001]α are estimated as ε11 =ε22 = −0.03 and ε33 = −0.09, respectively. The observation that the estimated absolute value of ε33 is much smaller than that of ε33 = −0.25 calculated using lattice parameters of the γ’ phase and Cu matrix is understood in terms of the relaxation of ε33 by interfacial misfit dislocations.

Abstract: The coherent phase equilibria of binary nanoparticles, in which three phases can be formed, were examined by accounting for the particle size effect engendered by the surface stress. Considering the system geometry exhibiting radial symmetry, coherent phase diagrams could be constructed for different particle sizes. The phase diagrams exhibited several characteristics of phase equilibria unique to coherent systems. It was found that a positive surface stress results in a radial compressive stress in the particle that is inversely proportional to the particle radius, thereby increasingly stabilizing the phase having a lower molar volume as the particle size decreases.

Abstract: Recently nanocrystalline Al-Fe alloys produced by a vapor quench method have been reported. These alloys are supersaturated solid solution and exhibit high strength with good ductility. It is postulated that the high strength of the Al-Fe alloys could be achieved by both the nano-grained structures and the solid solution strengthening. The contribution to the yield strength due to both the grain size strengthening and the solid solution strengthening were analyzed from the experimental data. Then the contribution to the yield strength due to the solid solution strengthening was estimated from the misfit strain calculated from the first principles in order to compare with analytical results estimated from the experimental data.

Abstract: High silicon Al-Si alloy powders having nanocrystalline structures have been produced by mechanical alloying process. Microstructures in mechanically alloyed Al-Si powders were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analyses were also carried out to characterize lattice constant, crystallite size and misfit strain. Effective milling time for the formation of nanocrystalline microstructure was thought to be approximately 12 hours, and the sizes of Al and Si crystallites in mechanically alloyed powders after longer than 12 hours of milling were reduced to about 30nm and 70nm respectively, in Al-70 mass% Si alloy system. The misfit strains increased with milling time up to 240 hours, and saturated to 5.73×10^-3 and 4.39×10^-3 for Al and Si crystallites, respectively.