Formation of intermetallics in Pt/Al system as a function of Pt layer thickness

The properties of metals and alloys are of critical importance and bulk alloying is one of the possibilities to enhance their properties. An alternative method to improve their surface characteristics is surface coating. In the system of our interest, Pt/Al, the formation of intermetallics and their spatial distribution was investigated in thermally annealed systems as a function of coating thickness using intense synchrotron X-ray beams. Whereas the detection of intermetallics within depths was examined by synchrotron μ-X-ray diffraction, changes in coating morphology were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that the Al21Pt6, Al2Pt, Al3Pt2, AlPt, AlPt2 intermetallics were formed irrespectively of coating thickness. However, the formation of the most dominant phases was strongly influenced by the coating thickness. They also provide new routes to generate specific PtxAly phases with desirable properties based on controllable experimental conditions, opening directions towards properties tunability of a coated system.