Size dependence of phase separation in small bimetallic clusters

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Abstract
Aspects of the size dependence of phase separation in small bimetallic solid clusters are investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. The interatomic interactions are described approximately using the effective-medium theory. For the Ag-Cu system, which in the bulk shows phase separation for a broad range of mixing ratios up to the melting temperature, we find a strong size dependence of the maximum temperature where phase separation is possible. We also find that for clusters smaller than a critical cluster size N0 of about 270 atoms there is no phase separation at all. The results are discussed in terms of a simple continuum model, which is found to be adequate for describing the main characteristics of the problem. Using the simple model we propose a description of N0 as a function of the interface and mixing energies of an alloy, which can be used to estimate N0 for other bimetallic alloys.

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