Atomic-scale structural heterogeneity and elastic modulus for metallic glasses

• The fraction of atomic-scale structural heterogeneity (ASSH) in MGs is calculated.
• The Debye temperature of MGs primarily inherits from their solvent components.
• Decreased ASSH increases the elastic modulus of MGs.

The role of atomic-scale structural heterogeneity (ASSH) in the elastic modulus for metallic glasses (MGs) is investigated. A strategy for estimating the strength of ASSH in MGs is proposed and then the fraction of ASSH is obtained. It is found that the fraction of ASSH could be the basic entities responsible for the change of elastic modulus during the change of composition and structure relaxation in MGs.