The modifications in atomistic structure, chemical bonding, and energetics induced by substitutional cation impurities isolated in the bulk volume and segregated at grain boundaries of alpha-Al2O3 were investigated by combining empirical ionic-model and first-principles electronic-structure calculations. The dependency of these modifications on the boundary type, species and concentration of impurities, was studied by selecting the following variety of systems: three twin boundaries (the prismatic Sigma3 (10 (1) over bar0), the rhombohedral Sigma7 (10 (1) over bar2), and the pyramidal Sigma13 (10 (1) over bar4) twins), three impurities X (X = Se, Y, and La), and two concentrations for the segregant ( approximate to3 and approximate to6 atoms/nm(2)). A partial covalent character is found to be a distinctive feature of the X-O bonds in both bulk and interfacial atomic environments, and to drive the structural distortions of the octahedral XO6 clusters. The energetics of segregation reveals a linear relationship between segregation energy and impurity size. This is interpreted as resulting from a stress field localized at the interface. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.

First-principles analysis of cation segregation at grain boundaries in alpha-Al2O3

Fabris, Stefano;
2003-01-01

Abstract

The modifications in atomistic structure, chemical bonding, and energetics induced by substitutional cation impurities isolated in the bulk volume and segregated at grain boundaries of alpha-Al2O3 were investigated by combining empirical ionic-model and first-principles electronic-structure calculations. The dependency of these modifications on the boundary type, species and concentration of impurities, was studied by selecting the following variety of systems: three twin boundaries (the prismatic Sigma3 (10 (1) over bar0), the rhombohedral Sigma7 (10 (1) over bar2), and the pyramidal Sigma13 (10 (1) over bar4) twins), three impurities X (X = Se, Y, and La), and two concentrations for the segregant ( approximate to3 and approximate to6 atoms/nm(2)). A partial covalent character is found to be a distinctive feature of the X-O bonds in both bulk and interfacial atomic environments, and to drive the structural distortions of the octahedral XO6 clusters. The energetics of segregation reveals a linear relationship between segregation energy and impurity size. This is interpreted as resulting from a stress field localized at the interface. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.
2003
51
1
71
86
Fabris, Stefano; Elsasser, C.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/32692
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