A local probe into the atomic structure of metallic glasses using eels

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is used to extract information on the j topological arrangement of atoms around Pd in the bulk-glass-forming PdsoNizoPzo- It is found that the environment around Pd in the glass is only a slight modification of the Pd i crystalline structure. However, the modification is enough to allow this alloy to form a glass [ in bulk. In examining the differences between the structure of crystalline Pd and glassy PdeoNiioPio it is concluded that incorporation of Ni and P into the structure frustrates the structure enough that glass formation becomes easy. ©1999 Materials Research Society.