Browsing by Author "Liu, ACY"

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    Formation and structure of V–Zr amorphous alloy thin films
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015-01-15) King, DJM; Middleburgh, SC; Liu, ACY; Tahini, HA; Lumpkin, GR; Cortie, MB
    Although the equilibrium phase diagram predicts that alloys in the central part of the V–Zr system should consist of V2Zr Laves phase with partial segregation of one element, it is known that under non-equilibrium conditions these materials can form amorphous structures. Here we examine the structures and stabilities of thin film V–Zr alloys deposited at room temperature by magnetron sputtering. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and computational methods. Atomic-scale modelling was used to investigate the enthalpies of formation of the various competing structures. The calculations confirmed that an amorphous solid solution would be significantly more stable than a random body-centred solid solution of the elements, in agreement with the experimental results. In addition, the modelling effort provided insight into the probable atomic configurations of the amorphous structures allowing predictions of the average distance to the first and second nearest neighbours in the system. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
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    Total scattering measurements at the Australian Synchrotron Powder Diffraction beamline: capabilities and limitations
    (International Union of Crystallography, 2023-03-01) D'Angelo, AM; Brand, HEA; Mitchell, VD; Hamilton, JL; Oldfield, DT; Liu, ACY; Gu, QF
    This study describes the capabilities and limitations of carrying out total scattering experiments on the Powder Diffraction (PD) beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO. A maximum instrument momentum transfer of 19 Å−1 can be achieved if the data are collected at 21 keV. The results detail how the pair distribution function (PDF) is affected by Qmax, absorption and counting time duration at the PD beamline, and refined structural parameters exemplify how the PDF is affected by these parameters. There are considerations when performing total scattering experiments at the PD beamline, including (1) samples need to be stable during data collection, (2) highly absorbing samples with a μR > 1 always require dilution and (3) only correlation length differences >0.35 Å may be resolved. A case study comparing the PDF atom–atom correlation lengths with EXAFS-derived radial distances of Ni and Pt nanocrystals is also presented, which shows good agreement between the two techniques. The results here can be used as a guide for researchers considering total scattering experiments at the PD beamline or similarly setup beamlines. © 2023 The Authors - Open Access CC-BY Licence 4.0
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    Total scattering measurements at the Australian Synchrotron Powder Diffraction beamline: capabilities and limitations
    (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, 2021-11-24) D'Angelo, AM; Gu, QF; Brand, HEA; Mitchell, VD; Hamilton, JL; Liu, ACY; Oldfield, DT
    The PD beamline at the Australian Synchrotron (ANSTO) consistently receives requests to carry out total scattering experiments for various materials including battery electrodes, piezoelectrics and coordination frameworks. In this study we describe the capabilities and limitations of carrying out total scattering experiments on the Powder Diffraction beamline. A maximum instrument momentum transfer of 19 Å-1 can be achieved. Our results detail how the pair distribution function is affected by Qmax, absorption, and counting time duration at the PD beamline. We also trial a variable counting time strategy using the Mythen II detector. Refined structural parameters exemplify how the PDF is affected by these parameters. Total scattering experiments can be carried out at PD although there are limitations. These are: (1) only measurements on stable systems and at non-ambient conditions is possible if the temperature is held during data collection, (2) it is essential to dilute highly absorbing samples (μR>1), and (3) only correlation lengths >0.35 Å may be resolved. A case study comparing the PDF atom-atom correlation lengths with EXAFS derived radial distances of Ni and Pt nanoparticles is also presented, which shows good agreement between the two techniques. The results here can be used as a guide for researchers considering total scattering experiments at the PD beamline. © The Authors