Direct observation of incommensurate structure in Mo3Si

Abstract

Z-contrast imaging, electron diffraction, atom-probe tomography (APT) and density functional theory calculations were used to study the crystal structure of the Mo3Si phase which was previously reported to have an A15 crystal structure. The results showed that Mo3Si has an incommensurate crystal structure with a non-cubic unit cell. The small off-stoichiometry in composition of the sample which was revealed by APT and atomic resolutionZ-contrast imaging suggested that site substitution caused the development of split atomic positions, disorder and vacancies.