Deuterium occupation of interatomic hole sites in Ni67Zr33 amorphous alloy

Abstract

The occupation of interatomic hole sites by deuterium in a deuterated Ni67Zr33 amorphous alloy was investigated using diffraction measurements and a combination of reverse Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulation techniques. The results show that deuterium atoms occupy various types of polyhedral hole sites, as well as tetrahedral ones. The occupation by a deuterium atom of a tetrahedral hole site causes volume expansion, but that of a larger polyhedral hole site does not cause a substantial change in the volume. Each deuterium atom is chemically bonded with 4–6 metal atoms, even for a larger polyhedral hole formed by seven or more metal atoms.