Direct evidence for oxygen stabilization of icosahedral phase during crystallization of Zr65Cu27.5Al7.5 metallic glass

The present letter reports the formation of the icosahedral phase during crystallization of amorphous ${\mathrm{Zr}}_{\text{65−x}}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{\mathrm{27.5}}{\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{7.5}}{\mathrm{O}}_x$ $\text{(x=0.43\%}$ and 0.82%) alloys. Three-dimensional atom probe studies have revealed that the quasicrystalline phase is enriched in oxygen. This, together with the fact that no icosahedral phase forms at low oxygen level (0.14%), clearly establishes that the quasicrystalline phase in Zr-based metallic glasses is stabilized by oxygen.