High resolution electron microscopic studies of HoAl₃, Er_0·5Gd_0·5Al₃ and Y_0·91Er_0·09Al₃ in thin film form

Abstract

Rare earth trialuminides (RAl₃) exhibit an interesting series of structures changing from 2H to 3C in the bulk form. Many of the rare earth trialuminides have been recently found to exhibit curious structural characteristics such as the occurrence of the modulated phases. A detailed investigation of the formation synthesis and characterization of some binary and ternary alloys of the rare earth-aluminium system has been carried out. High resolution microscopic technique has been employed to study the modulated phases for some alloyse.g. HoAl₃, Er_0·5Gd_0·5Al₃ and Y_0·91Er_0·09Al₃. With the help of lattice imaging technique, several new modulated phases have been investigated. A possible mechanism for the formation of these phases has been suggested. The details of the results obtained by lattice imaging technique are discussed.