A study of phase separated Ni66Nb17Y17 metallic glass using atom probe tomography

► Atom probe tomography reveals nano-scaled phase separation in Ni66Nb17Y17 metallic glass ribbon. ► A comparison of voltage and laser pulsed atom probe analyses is presented. ► Preferential evaporation of yttrium can be minimized by utilizing the pulsed laser atom probe. ► Yttrium and niobium enriched phases have an interwoven morphology. ► The extent of phase separation depends on the cooling rate during the vitrification.