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Two-step nucleation mechanism in solid–solid phase transitions

Nature Materials volume 14, pages 101–108 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

The microscopic kinetics of ubiquitous solid–solid phase transitions remain poorly understood. Here, by using single-particle-resolution video microscopy of colloidal films of diameter-tunable microspheres, we show that transitions between square and triangular lattices occur via a two-step diffusive nucleation pathway involving liquid nuclei. The nucleation pathway is favoured over the direct one-step nucleation because the energy of the solid/liquid interface is lower than that between solid phases. We also observed that nucleation precursors are particle-swapping loops rather than newly generated structural defects, and that coherent and incoherent facets of the evolving nuclei exhibit different energies and growth rates that can markedly alter the nucleation kinetics. Our findings suggest that an intermediate liquid should exist in the nucleation processes of solid–solid transitions of most metals and alloys, and provide guidance for better control of the kinetics of the transition and for future refinements of solid–solid transition theory.

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Figure 1: 5 two-step nucleation in a crystal with two vacancies in an H = 3 μm sample at 27.2 °C.
Figure 2: 5 two-step nucleation in a crystal with dislocations at 27.4 °C.
Figure 3: 5 two-step nucleation at a grain boundary at 27.2 °C.
Figure 4: Two-step nucleation mechanism.
Figure 5: Properties of nuclei.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Chinese grants NSFC11374248 (Y.H.), NSFC11004143, NSFC21174101, NSFC91027040 and NBRPC.2012CB821500 (Z.Z.), and by US grants NSF DMR12-05463, NSF-MRSEC DMR11-20901 and NASA NNX08AO0G (A.G.Y.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China

    Yi Peng, Feng Wang, Ziren Wang & Yilong Han

  2. Complex Assemblies of Soft Matter (COMPASS), Solvay-CNRS-UPenn UMI 3254, Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007, USA

    Ahmed M. Alsayed

  3. Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China

    Zexin Zhang

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA

    Arjun G. Yodh

  5. HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China

    Yilong Han

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  1. Yi Peng
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Contributions

Y.P. and Y.H. conceived and designed the research plan. Y.P. carried out the experiment and data analysis with help from Z.W. F.W., Y.P. and Y.H. carried out the theoretical modelling. A.M.A. and Z.Z. synthesized the particles. Y.H., Y.P. and A.G.Y. wrote the paper. Y.H. and A.G.Y. supervised and supported the work. All authors discussed the results.

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Correspondence to Yilong Han.

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Peng, Y., Wang, F., Wang, Z. et al. Two-step nucleation mechanism in solid–solid phase transitions. Nature Mater 14, 101–108 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4083

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