SILVER DIFFUSION IN A NANOMETER NI-B-O AMORPHOUS ALLOY

Diffusion of Ag in a nanometer Ni-B-0 amorphous alloy has been studied by heavy-ion Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. A significant mass transport was observed at the extremely low anneal temperatures. The values of the diffusion coefficients that were found at 293, 323, and 373 K are 3.5 X 10(-16), 4.3 X 10(-15), and 5.0 X 10(-14) cm2/S, respectively. Moreover, small values for the activation energy, 0.58 eV, and the pre-exponential factor of the diffusion coefficient, 3.9 X 10(-6) cm2/s, were derived from the Arrhenius plot. Finally, a possible free volume controlled diffusion mechanism was discussed.