3-D phase-field simulations of self-organized composite morphologies in physical vapor deposited phase-separating binary alloys

We use 3D phase-field simulations to investigate the role of deposition rates and atomic mobilities on morphological self-structuring in phase-separating, vapor-deposited alloys. Our numerical simulations predict the three distinct nanocomposite morphologies: vertical composition modulations (VCMs), lateral composition modulations (LCMs), and random composition modulations. We also observed a transitional region between VCM and LCM that exhibits the coexistence of features drawn from both morphologies. We compare these results with experiments carried out on co-deposited Cu-Mo alloys and find good agreement between the two.