Electronic structure and properties of (TiZrNbCu)_1-xNi_x high entropy amorphous alloys

TL;DR

This study investigates the structural, thermal, magnetic, and elastic properties of (TiZrNbCu)_1-xNi_x amorphous high entropy alloys, revealing how Ni addition influences electronic density, bonding, and vibrational characteristics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of how Ni content affects the properties of (TiZrNbCu)_1-xNi_x amorphous high entropy alloys, including electronic, thermal, magnetic, and elastic behaviors.

Findings

N_0(E_F) decreases with increasing Ni content

Debye temperature increases with Ni addition

No superconductivity observed down to 1.8K

Abstract

A comprehensive study of selected properties of four (TiZrNbCu)_1-xNi_x (x \le 0.25) amorphous high entropy alloys (a-HEA) has been performed. The samples were ribbons about 20 \mum thick and their fully amorphous state was verified by X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. The surface morphology, precise composition and the distribution of components were studied with a Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) attachment. The properties selected were the melting temperature (T_m), the low temperature specific heat (LTSH), the magnetic susceptibility \chi_exp and the Young^,s modulus (E). Whereas LTSH and \chi_exp were measured for the as-cast samples, E was measured both for as-cast samples and relaxed samples (after a short anneal close to the glass transition temperature). The LTSH showed that the electronic density of states at the Fermi level, N_0(E_F), decreases with increasing x, whereas the Debye temperature (\theta_D) increases with x. This is similar to what is observed in binary and ternary amorphous alloys of early transition metals (TE) with late transition metals (TL) and indicates that N_0(E_F) is dominated by the d-electrons of the TE. The LTSH also showed the absence of superconductivity down to 1.8K and indicated the emergence of the Boson peak above 4K in all alloys.The free-electron like paramagnetic contribution to \chi_exp also decreases with x, whereas E, like \theta_D, increases with x, indicating enhanced interatomic bonding on addition of Ni. The applicability of the rule of mixtures to these and other similar HEAs is briefly discussed.