Mechanical properties of YM3B phases: The effect of 4d shell population on the elastic properties of YM3B thin films ( M = Zr, Mo, Rh, and Ag)

• Applicant: Professor Jochen M. Schneider, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials and their Microstructural Origins
• Term: from 2005 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 19534468

RM3B phases, where R is a rare earth element and M designates a transition metal, can be described as nanolaminates with M - R layers stacked on M - B layers. While the transport properties of RRh3B phases have been reported in literature, many basic materials science questions with respect to the synthesis-structureproperty relationship of RM3B compounds remain unanswered. One such experimentally unexplored question is the dependence of the elastic and plastic properties on the 4d shell population of M elements in RM3B phases. The YM3B system was selected because of the fascinating elastic properties which can be expected based on our recently published ab initio calculations [Music et a/., Phys. Rev. B 71, 052104 (2005)]. Our strategy is, once suitable growth conditions for these materials are identified and optimized, to correlate the mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation with the information gained through structure, chemistry, and bonding characterization for four valence electron configurations. Through correlation with our already published ab initio data we expect to contribute towards a better basic understanding of these materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants