Tarantino, Serena C. and Zema, Michele and Capitani, Giancarlo and Scavini, Marco and Ghigna, Paolo and Brunelli, Michela and Carpenter, Michael A. (2011) Rhombic-shaped nanodomains in columbite driven by contrasting cation order. American Mineralogist, 96 (2-3). pp. 374-382. DOI https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2011.3571
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Abstract
Transient (non-equilibrium) microstructures in crystals may arise in an order-disorder phase transition that generates lattice strain. A two-phase field can develop if fluctuations of the order parameter lead to nucleation of an ordered phase in a disordered matrix, as we describe here for columbite. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that ordering in columbite involves two discrete phases with different degree of order but the same composition. A highly unusual distribution of ordered rhombic-shaped domains within a disordered matrix establishes on a nanometer scale and remains relatively stable over a prolonged period of annealing. Progressive ordering takes place within the ordered domains and the disordered matrix but the domains maintain more or less constant shape and distribution. We speculate that a new family of such microstructures could develop in other oxide phases with cation ordering transitions that are strongly first order in character. Long-term stability of such microstructures and their dependence on strain could open up the possibility of engineering the properties of crystals containing a percolating disordered matrix with ordered nanodomains of controlled dimensions.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | 2011AREP; IA62; |
Subjects: | 03 - Mineral Sciences |
Divisions: | 03 - Mineral Sciences |
Journal or Publication Title: | American Mineralogist |
Volume: | 96 |
Page Range: | pp. 374-382 |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2011.3571 |
Depositing User: | Sarah Humbert |
Date Deposited: | 25 Mar 2011 16:25 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2013 10:02 |
URI: | http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/2039 |
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