A new phase in the intermetallic Au-Cu system

Abstract

A new phase in the Au-Cu system has been found by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and further investigation by electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. It developed during room-temperature irradiation of ordered Cu₃Au along (110) and (100) with 400 keV electrons. The composition of the new phase is close to Au_0.5Cu_0.5 The crystal structure is proposed to be either b.c.c. (a=0.330 ± 0.002nm) or cubic primitive (a = 0.233 ± 0.002nm).