Crystalline-Amorphous Nanostructures: Microstructure, Property and Modelling

Crystalline metals generally exhibit good deformability but low strength and poor irradiation tolerance. Amorphous materials in general display poor deformability but high strength and good irradiation tolerance. Interestingly, refining characteristic size can enhance the flow strength of crystalline metals and the deformability of amorphous materials. Thus, crystalline-amorphous nanostructures can exhibit an enhanced strength and an improved plastic flow stability. In addition, high-density interfaces can trap radiation-induced defects and accommodate free volume fluctuation. In this article, we review crystalline-amorphous nanocomposites with characteristic microstructures including nanolaminates, core-shell microstructures, and crystalline/amorphous-based dual-phase nanocomposites. The focus is put on synthesis of characteristic microstructures, deformation behaviors, and multiscale materials modelling.

Automated summary

Crystalline metals have good deformability but poor strength and irradiation tolerance, while amorphous materials have poor deformability but high strength and good irradiation tolerance. By refining characteristic size, the flow strength of crystalline metals and the deformability of amorphous materials can be enhanced. This leads to enhanced strength and improved plastic flow stability in crystalline-amorphous nanostructures. The high-density interfaces in these nanostructures can trap radiation-induced defects and accommodate free volume fluctuation. This article reviews various crystalline-amorphous nanocomposites and their synthesis, deformation behaviors, and multiscale materials modelling.