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Segregation of Sn in the binary CuSn and ternary CuSnSb alloy systems
Author(s) -
Asante J. K. O.,
Terblans J. J.,
Roos W. D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/sia.2323
Subject(s) - ternary operation , materials science , alloy , ternary numeral system , thermodynamics , kinetic energy , crystallography , metallurgy , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Progression studies have been followed from Cu(111)‐ and Cu(100)Sn binaries to Cu(111)‐ and Cu(100)SnSb ternary‐alloy systems under the same experimental conditions. The segregation behaviour of Sn in the two orientations are explained. It is found that the kinetic segregation profiles of Sn in the ternary alloys shift to lower temperatures as compared to that in the binary. The Sn profile shift is mainly due to the decrease in the activation energy of Sn in the ternary systems. For a particular Cu orientation, the other segregation parameters that the Sn profiles depend on, like the pre‐exponential factor, segregation energy and the interaction coefficient, are found to be the same in the two systems. There is also a change in the equilibrium segregation profiles of Sn. In the ternary system, site competition between Sn and Sb causes the Sn to suffer exponential desegregation and eventual displacement from the surface. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.