文摘
Minor alloying element, Al, tunes mechanical behaviour of Zr-Ni-Al metallic glass. Al-centred full-icosahedron (Al-FI) is the key structural motifs in this glass. At Al at.% < 15, the majority of Al-FIs are isolated. At Al at.% > 15, a network of connected Al-FIs forms, leading to glass embrittlement. Chemical affinity of alloying elements affects the connectivity of structural motifs.