Positron annihilation studies for Ce₇₀Ga₈Cu₂₂ bulk metallic glasses with different solvent purity

Abstract

Ce₇₀Ga₈Cu₂₂ bulk metallic glasses with slightly different purities of Ce element are studied by means of positron annihilation spectroscopy. It is found that the densely-packed Ce-agglomerated state in the amorphous matrix disappears upon employing the 0.38 wt.% lower purity of Ce and nanovoid is alternatively formed. The local structures susceptible to the purity of Ce atoms is discussed based on the bonding nature of solvent Ce with the impurity elements of Al and Si together with hybrid interaction between Al-3p, Si-3p, and Ce-4f orbits.