Segregation, clustering, and suppression of phase separation in amorphous silicon–germanium alloys

Abstract

We study the problem of decomposition in amorphous Si–Ge alloys. Our Monte Carlo (MC) simulations show that phase separation is totally suppressed in the amorphous phase. Still, in the short-range structure of the network there is a tendency for clustering of homopolar bonds, as this relieves strain energy. The strain field due to the amorphous/crystalline interface produces compositional modulations in the alloy.