The study of the thermal stability of Ni₃Al nanoneedles using computer simulation

The study of the thermal stability of Ni₃Al nanoneedles in the dependence on the sharpness and crystallography orientation of the needle axis was held using molecular dynamics method. It is shown that the most stability nanoneedles in the conditions of thermal influence are the nanoneedles with the axis along [111] direction. Violation of the nanoneedles stability associated with their blunting, which is caused by surface diffusion. Stable radius of curvature of the needles depends on the angle of the tip and orientation of the needle axis. It is 0.6-1 nm at low temperatures. (paper)