Amorphization in Gd–Co alloys and multilayers

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter Vol. 14; no. 39; pp. 8913 - 8924
• Main Authors: Alonso, J A, Tendler, R Hojvat de, Barbiric, D A, Riveiro, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 07.10.2002; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Diffusion; interface formation; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Gibbs free energy; Amorphization; Composition effect; Amorphous alloy; Solid-solid interfaces; Experimental study; Binary alloys; Gadolinium alloys; Phenomenological model; Multilayers; Solid state reaction; Rare earth alloys; Chemical composition; Semiempirical method; Cobalt alloys; Transition element alloys; Bilayers
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/14/39/301

A semiempirical model is used to analyse the results of published experiments reporting on the solid-state amorphization reactions in bilayers and multilayers formed by Gd and Co. The role of the interfacial effects in raising the free energy of the initial arrangement in a multilayered configuration, and in promoting the amorphization reaction, is studied in detail. The model explains the observation of amorphous alloys over a broad composition range in the bilayer experiments. The preferred composition obtained in the multilayer experiments is discussed critically and the model prediction of a preferred composition Gd sub 0.46 Co sub 0.54 is in good agreement with the compositions observed in recent experiments.