AI Chat Paper
Note: Please note that the following content is generated by AMiner AI. SciOpen does not take any responsibility related to this content.
{{lang === 'zh_CN' ? '文章概述' : 'Summary'}}
{{lang === 'en_US' ? '中' : 'Eng'}}
Chat more with AI
Powered by AMiner. Clicking this button will take you away from SciOpen.
Home Journal of Advanced Ceramics Article
PDF (1.1 MB)
Cite
EndNote(RIS) BibTeX
Collect
Submit Manuscript AI Chat Paper
Show Outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Outline
Show full outline
Hide outline
Research Article | Open Access

Electron-irradiation-facilitated production of chemically homogenized nanotwins in nanolaminated carbides

Hui Zhanga,b( ), Qianqian Jinc, Tao Hud( ), Xiaochun Liue, Zezhong Zhangf, Chunfeng Hug, Yanchun Zhouh( ), Yu Hani, Xiaohui Wangj
Electron Microscopy Center, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Center for the Structure of Advanced Matter, School of Electronic Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou 545006, China
Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
Institute of Metals, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2020, Belgium
Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, Physical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Show Author Information

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Twin boundaries have been exploited to stabilize ultrafine grains and improve mechanical properties of nanomaterials. The production of the twin boundaries and nanotwins is however prohibitively challenging in carbide ceramics. Using a scanning transmission electron microscope as a unique platform for atomic-scale structure engineering, we demonstrate that twin platelets could be produced in carbides by engineering antisite defects. The antisite defects at metal sites in various layered ternary carbides are collectively and controllably generated, and the metal elements are homogenized by electron irradiation, which transforms a twin-like lamellae into nanotwin platelets. Accompanying chemical homogenization, α-Ti3AlC2 transforms to unconventional β-Ti3AlC2. The chemical homogeneity and the width of the twin platelets can be tuned by dose and energy of bombarding electrons. Chemically homogenized nanotwins can boost hardness by ~45%. Our results provide a new way to produce ultrathin (< 5 nm) nanotwin platelets in scientifically and technologically important carbide materials and showcase feasibility of defect engineering by an angstrom-sized electron probe.

Keywords

electron-irradiationMAX phasescarbidesantisite defectscrystal-structure engineering

Electronic Supplementary Material

Video
JAC0757_ESM_Video_S1.mp4
JAC0757_ESM_Video_S2.mp4
JAC0757_ESM_Video_S3.mp4
JAC0757_ESM_Video_S4.mp4
JAC0757_ESM_Video_S5.mp4
Download File(s)
JAC0757_ESM.pdf (2.5 MB)

References

[1]
Lu K. Stabilizing nanostructures in metals using grain and twin boundary architectures. Nat Rev Mater 2016, 1: 16019.
Crossref Google Scholar
[2]
Li XY, Jin ZH, Zhou X, et al. Constrained minimal-interface structures in polycrystalline copper with extremely fine grains. Science 2020, 370: 831–836.
Crossref Google Scholar
[3]
Zhu YM, Zhang K, Meng ZC, et al. Ultrastrong nanotwinned titanium alloys through additive manufacturing. Nat Mater 2022, 21: 1258–1262.
Crossref Google Scholar
[4]
Huang Q, Yu DL, Xu B, et al. Nanotwinned diamond with unprecedented hardness and stability. Nature 2014, 510: 250–253.
Crossref Google Scholar
[5]
Tian YJ, Xu B, Yu DL, et al. Ultrahard nanotwinned cubic boron nitride. Nature 2013, 493: 385–388.
Crossref Google Scholar
[6]
Barsoum MW. MAX Phases: Properties of Machinable Ternary Carbides and Nitrides. Weinheim, Germany: John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
Crossref
[7]
Zhou AG, Liu Y, Li SB, et al. From structural ceramics to 2D materials with multi-applications: A review on the development from MAX phases to MXenes. J Adv Ceram 2021, 10: 1194–1242.
Crossref Google Scholar
[8]
Zhang H, Hu T, Wang XH, et al. Structural defects in MAX phases and their derivative MXenes: A look forward. J Mater Sci Technol 2020, 38: 205–220.
Crossref Google Scholar
[9]
Wang JY, Zhou YC. Recent progress in theoretical prediction, preparation, and characterization of layered ternary transition-metal carbides. Annu Rev Mater Res 2009, 39: 415–443.
Crossref Google Scholar
[10]
Barsoum MW, Farber L, El-Raghy T. Dislocations, kink bands, and room-temperature plasticity of Ti3SiC2. Metall Mater Trans A 1999, 30: 1727–1738.
Crossref Google Scholar
[11]
Barsoum MW, Radovic M. Elastic and mechanical properties of the MAX phases. Annu Rev Mater Res 2011, 41: 195–227.
Crossref Google Scholar
[12]
Naguib M, Kurtoglu M, Presser V, et al. Two-dimensional nanocrystals produced by exfoliation of Ti3AlC2. Adv Mater 2011, 23: 4248–4253.
Crossref Google Scholar
[13]
Nie JF, Zhu YM, Liu JZ, et al. Periodic segregation of solute atoms in fully coherent twin boundaries. Science 2013, 340: 957–960.
Crossref Google Scholar
[14]
Pang WK, Low IM, O’Connor BH, et al. In situ diffraction study of thermal decomposition in Maxthal Ti2AlC. J Alloys Compd 2011, 509: 172–176.
Crossref Google Scholar
[15]
Wang CX, Tracy CL, Ewing RC. Radiation effects in Mn+1AXn phases. Appl Phys Rev 2020, 7: 041311.
Crossref Google Scholar
[16]
Wang CX, Yang TF, Tracy CL, et al. Disorder in Mn+1AXn phases at the atomic scale. Nat Commun 2019, 10: 622.
Crossref Google Scholar
[17]
Yang TF, Wang CX, Liu WL, et al. Formation of nano-twinned structure in Ti3AlC2 induced by ion-irradiation. Acta Mater 2017, 128: 1–11.
Crossref Google Scholar
[18]
Chen Z, Jiang Y, Shao YT, et al. Electron ptychography achieves atomic-resolution limits set by lattice vibrations. Science 2021, 372: 826–831.
Crossref Google Scholar
[19]
Sang XH, Lupini AR, Unocic RR, et al. Dynamic scan control in STEM: Spiral scans. Adv Struct Chem Imaging 2016, 2: 1–8.
Crossref Google Scholar
[20]
Dyck O, Ziatdinov M, Lingerfelt DB, et al. Atom-by-atom fabrication with electron beams. Nat Rev Mater 2019, 4: 497–507.
Crossref Google Scholar
[21]
Susi T, Meyer JC, Kotakoski J. Manipulating low-dimensional materials down to the level of single atoms with electron irradiation. Ultramicroscopy 2017, 180: 163–172.
Crossref Google Scholar
[22]
Jesse S, He Q, Lupini AR, et al. Atomic-level sculpting of crystalline oxides: Toward bulk nanofabrication with single atomic plane precision. Small 2015, 11: 5895–5900.
Crossref Google Scholar
[23]
Zhang H, Hu T, Sun WW, et al. Atomic repartition in MXenes by electron probes. Chem Mater 2019, 31: 4385–4391.
Crossref Google Scholar
[24]
Yang SZ, Sun WW, Zhang YY, et al. Direct cation exchange in monolayer MoS2 via recombination-enhanced migration. Phys Rev Lett 2019, 122: 106101.
Crossref Google Scholar
[25]
Hopkinson DG, Zólyomi V, Rooney AP, et al. Formation and healing of defects in atomically thin GaSe and InSe. ACS Nano 2019, 13: 5112–5123.
Crossref Google Scholar
[26]
Parajuli P, Park H, Kwon BJ, et al. Direct observation of electron beam-induced phase transition in MgCrMnO4. Chem Mater 2020, 32: 10456–10462.
Crossref Google Scholar
[27]
Wei JK, Feng B, Ishikawa R, et al. Direct imaging of atomistic grain boundary migration. Nat Mater 2021, 20: 951–955.
Crossref Google Scholar
[28]
Lin YC, Dumcenco DO, Huang YS, et al. Atomic mechanism of the semiconducting-to-metallic phase transition in single-layered MoS2. Nat Nanotechnol 2014, 9: 391–396.
Crossref Google Scholar
[29]
Romero M, Huerta L, Akachi T, et al. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the electronic structure of superconducting Nb2SnC and Nb2SC. J Alloys Compd 2013, 579: 516–520.
Crossref Google Scholar
[30]
Wang XH, Zhou YC. Solid–liquid reaction synthesis of layered machinable Ti3AlC2 ceramic. J Mater Chem 2002, 12: 455–460.
Crossref Google Scholar
[31]
Zhang H, Hu T, Wang XH, et al. Discovery of carbon-vacancy ordering in Nb4AlC3–x under the guidance of first-principles calculations. Sci Rep 2015, 5: 14192.
Crossref Google Scholar
[32]
Tate MW, Purohit P, Chamberlain D, et al. High dynamic range pixel array detector for scanning transmission electron microscopy. Microsc Microanal 2016, 22: 237–249.
Crossref Google Scholar
[33]
Rodenburg JM, Bates RHT. The theory of super-resolution electron microscopy via Wigner-distribution deconvolution. Philos T R Soc A 1992, 339: 521–553.
Crossref Google Scholar
[34]
Pennycook TJ, Lupini AR, Yang H, et al. Efficient phase contrast imaging in STEM using a pixelated detector. Part 1: Experimental demonstration at atomic resolution. Ultramicroscopy 2015, 151: 160–167.
Crossref Google Scholar
[35]
Koch CT. Determination of core structure periodicity and point defect density along dislocations. Ph.D. Thesis. Phoenix, USA: Arizona State University, 2002.
[36]
Kresse G, Furthmüller J. Efficient iterative schemes for ab initio total-energy calculations using a plane-wave basis set. Phys Rev B 1996, 54: 11169–11186.
Crossref Google Scholar
[37]
Perdew JP, Burke K, Ernzerhof M. Generalized gradient approximation made simple. Phys Rev Lett 1996, 77: 3865–3868.
Crossref Google Scholar
[38]
Liu B, Petersen B, Zhang YW, et al. Layered structure induced anisotropic low-energy recoils in Ti3SiC2. J Am Ceram Soc 2016, 99: 2693–2698.
Crossref Google Scholar
[39]
Liu XM, Le Flem M, Béchade JL, et al. XRD investigation of ion irradiated Ti3Si0.90Al0.10C2. Nucl Instrum Meth B 2010, 268: 506–512.
Crossref Google Scholar
[40]
Deng TY, Sun JR, Tai PF, et al. Ti3AlC2, a candidate structural material for innovative nuclear energy system: The microstructure phase transformation and defect evolution induced by energetic heavy-ion irradiation. Acta Mater 2020, 189: 188–203.
Crossref Google Scholar
[41]
Borisevich AY, Lupini AR, Pennycook SJ. Depth sectioning with the aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. PNAS 2006, 103: 3044–3048.
Crossref Google Scholar
[42]
Allen LJ, D’Alfonso AJ, Findlay SD. Modelling the inelastic scattering of fast electrons. Ultramicroscopy 2015, 151: 11–22.
Crossref Google Scholar
[43]
Oxley MP, Allen LJ. Atomic scattering factors for K-shell and L-shell ionization by fast electrons. Acta Crystallogr A 2000, 56: 470–490.
Crossref Google Scholar
[44]
Egerton RF, McLeod R, Wang F, et al. Basic questions related to electron-induced sputtering in the TEM. Ultramicroscopy 2010, 110: 991–997.
Crossref Google Scholar
[45]
Ophus C. Four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM): From scanning nanodiffraction to ptychography and beyond. Microsc Microanal 2019, 25: 563–582.
Crossref Google Scholar
[46]
Wang XH, Zhou YC. Layered machinable and electrically conductive Ti2AlC and Ti3AlC2 ceramics: A review. J Mater Sci Technol 2010, 26: 385–416.
Crossref Google Scholar
[47]
Wuttig M, Lüsebrink D, Wamwangi D, et al. The role of vacancies and local distortions in the design of new phase-change materials. Nat Mater 2007, 6: 122–128.
Crossref Google Scholar
Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Volume 12 Issue 6,
June 2023
Pages 1288-1297
DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2023.9220757
Cite this article:
Zhang H, Jin Q, Hu T, et al. Electron-irradiation-facilitated production of chemically homogenized nanotwins in nanolaminated carbides. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2023, 12(6): 1288-1297. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220757

1442

Views

269

Downloads

0

Crossref

0

Web of Science

0

Scopus

0

CSCD

Altmetrics
Received: 19 February 2023
Revised: 07 April 2023
Accepted: 17 April 2023
Published: 05 June 2023
© The Author(s) 2023.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.

To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Return