Formation of a novel ordered Ni3Al surface structure by codeposition on NiAl(110)

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 May 25;108(21):216102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.216102. Epub 2012 May 23.

Abstract

The formation of a new type of ordered 2D Ni3Al overlayer by low-temperature codeposition on NiAl(110) is demonstrated by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of a multisite atomistic lattice-gas model with a precise treatment of surface diffusion kinetics. Simultaneous codeposition with 3:1 Ni:Al yields poor ordering at 300 K but well-ordered structures by ~500 K. Sequential codeposition of Ni then Al yields unmixed core-ring nanostructures at 300 K but strong intermixing and ordering by ~500 K.