Tailoring of misfit along interfaces between ZnxMn3−xO4 and Ag Original Research Article

This work is aimed at examining how the tetragonality of ZnxMn3−xO4 spinel structures depends on the chemical composition when ZnxMn3−xO4 is embedded in a metal matrix. The paper focuses on a wide range of ZnxMn3−xO4 precipitates in a Ag matrix with x varying between 0 and 1.5. This variation of x has been obtained by internal oxidation of Ag–2at.%Mn–4at.%Zn in air followed by annealing in vacuo at different temperatures. It will be demonstrated that the Zn concentration x in ZnxMn3−xO4 has a major influence on the interfacial misfit and orientation relation between Ag/ZnxMn3−xO4. The degree of mismatch of 10.4% of {1 1 1} Ag–Mn3O4 and 2.4% of Ag–Zn1.5Mn1.5O4 was visualized using the Bragg filtering technique on HRTEM micrographs of those interfaces. It was possible to identify misfit dislocations qualitatively with this technique at {1 1 1} Ag–ZnxMn3−xO4 interfaces with different degree of mismatch.