We present a modified embedded atom method (MEAM) semi-empirical force-field model for the Ti_1−xAl_xN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloy system. The MEAM parameters, determined via an adaptive simulated-annealing (ASA) minimization scheme, optimize the model’s predictions with respect to 0 K equilibrium volumes, elastic constants, cohesive energies, enthalpies of mixing, and point-defect formation energies, for a set of ≈40 elemental, binary, and ternary Ti-Al-N structures and configurations. Subsequently, the reliability of the model is thoroughly verified against known finite-temperature thermodynamic and kinetic properties of key binary Ti-N and Al-N phases, as well as properties of Ti_1−xAl_xN (0 < x < 1) alloys. The successful outcome of the validation underscores the transferability of our model, opening the way for large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of, e.g., phase evolution, interfacial processes, and mechanical response in Ti-Al-N-based alloys, superlattices, and nanostructures.

We report on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and physical vapor deposition experimental results concerning the development of glassy and nanocrystalline Cu–Zr thin films. MD has revealed that when Cu and Zr are deposited sequentially, a thin film overlayer is formed that consists of nanocrystalline $a\text{-Zr}$ and $t{\text{-Zr}}_2\text{Cu}$ , while if Cu and Zr are simultaneously deposited, amorphous CuZr thin film emerges, due to the formation of icosahedral-like clusters that impede nucleation. Thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition and magnetron sputtering techniques were analyzed by x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and yielded unequivocal evidence that validates our MD predictions. These findings may indicate an alternative pathway for the growth of metallic nanocomposites or glassy films.

We have used the X-ray absorption fine structure method and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize atomic order in Cu-Zr metallic glasses (MGs). The microstructure of these MGs is described in terms of interconnected icosahedral-like clusters (superclusters) which are basic building units reproducing the stoichiometry of the system. The equilibrium MD configurations are used as an input for ab initio calculations of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra. The theoretical EXAFS and XANES spectra are compared with those measured for rapidly quenched glassy Cu-Zr alloys. We demonstrate that the experimental results are well reproduced by EXAFS modeling of the population of the superclusters derived from the MD configuration. The average local structural motif can be approximated by Cu-centered icosahedral-like cluster satisfying the condition of maximal local packing efficiency and approximating the system stoichiometry. The simulated XANES exhibits good agreement with experiment, indicating that the atomic order of the MD configuration is consistent with that of the real alloy structure over distances of about 1 nm.