Advances in Calculations and Experimental Analysis of Structural and Phase Stability in Metals and Alloys

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Computation and Simulation on Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 739

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Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Sciences and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974301, Taiwan
Interests: mathematical modeling of alloys and metallic liquids; CALPHAD; ab initio; application of machine learning in materials science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in materials science are increasingly driven by the integration of computational modeling and experimental validation, enabling a more predictive approach to developing metals and alloys. This Special Issue focuses on the calculations and experimental analysis of structural and phase stability in metallic systems, emphasizing materials by design and materials genome strategies that accelerate discovery and optimization.

The ability to model material behavior across different scales—from atomic to macroscopic—has opened new avenues in understanding phase stability, transformation mechanisms, and structure–property relationships. Tools such as ab initio calculations, phase-field simulations, CALPHAD, and machine learning are now routinely used to predict phase diagrams, thermodynamic properties, and microstructural evolution. These predictions must be supported by experimental data obtained through in situ and high-resolution techniques, including diffraction, microscopy, and spectroscopy.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that explore the synergy between computational predictions and experimental validation in the study of metals, alloys, and composite systems. Topics of interest include

  • Modeling of structural and phase stability under various conditions;
  • Data-driven or high-throughput materials design;
  • Experimental studies that validate or inform simulations;
  • Coupled studies on processing, structure, and performance;
  • Applications of materials informatics in alloy development.

Research that bridges theory and application, especially studies with high potential for practical implementation, is encouraged. Submissions may focus on bulk materials, thin films, or powders, with attention to how processing and composition influence final properties.

Prof. Dr. Wojciech Gierlotka
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • computational materials science
  • experimental determination of metallic systems, XRD method
  • calorimetry
  • beam epitaxy
  • metallography
  • CALPHAD
  • ab initio
  • phase field
  • thermodynamics
  • machine learning

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 6206 KB  
Article
Finite-Temperature Mechanical Properties of fcc-Disordered PtRh Alloys from First-Principles Calculations
by Arkapol Saengdeejing, Ryoji Sahara, Yoshiyuki Kawazoe and Kazuyuki Higashino
Metals 2026, 16(7), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16070749 - 7 Jul 2026
Abstract
First-principles calculations were performed to predict the temperature-dependent elastic properties of fcc-disordered Pt–Rh alloys over a range of compositions. Special quasirandom structures (SQSs) were employed to represent the atomic disorder in the fcc solid-solution phase. The vibrational contribution to the free energy was [...] Read more.
First-principles calculations were performed to predict the temperature-dependent elastic properties of fcc-disordered Pt–Rh alloys over a range of compositions. Special quasirandom structures (SQSs) were employed to represent the atomic disorder in the fcc solid-solution phase. The vibrational contribution to the free energy was evaluated using the phonon quasi-harmonic approximation, enabling the calculation of finite-temperature free energies and coefficients of thermal expansion for the fcc-disordered Pt–Rh alloys. The elastic stiffness constants at different compositions were determined using the energy–strain method. By combining the calculated thermal expansion coefficients with elastic stiffness data obtained at various volumes, the temperature-dependent elastic stiffness constants of the fcc-disordered Pt–Rh alloys were determined. Full article
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23 pages, 2057 KB  
Article
Defect Thermodynamics and the Intrinsic Stability Window of Mg3Sb2
by Madhuri Birare, Adam Dębski, Władysław Gąsior and Wojciech Gierlotka
Metals 2026, 16(5), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16050558 - 20 May 2026
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Abstract
Magnesium antimonide (Mg3Sb2) has emerged as a promising high-performance thermoelectric material, yet its efficiency is fundamentally determined by intrinsic point defects. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of defects in the intermetallic compound Mg3Sb2 [...] Read more.
Magnesium antimonide (Mg3Sb2) has emerged as a promising high-performance thermoelectric material, yet its efficiency is fundamentally determined by intrinsic point defects. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of defects in the intermetallic compound Mg3Sb2 using first laws of thermodynamics and density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). By calculating the energy of defect formation and the charge transition energy between energy levels, it was determined how the change in chemical potential associated with phase synthesis affects the phase stability and carrier concentrations. Calculations show that donor defects dominate in Mg-rich alloys, primarily antimony vacancies and magnesium atoms in interstitial positions. This means that in a phase with a slight magnesium excess, e.g., Mg3.01Sb1.99 at 1400 K, n-type conductivity dominates. In the opposite case, i.e., in an Sb-rich alloy, magnesium vacancies spontaneously form in the Wyckoff 1a position. These ionized acceptors induce strong self-compensation, blocking the Fermi level about 0.38 eV above the valence band maximum. As a result of this process, the Mg3Sb2 phase, at elevated temperatures, becomes the non-stoichiometric Mg2.99Sb2.01 phase, which causes the material to retain p-type conductivity and actively block doping-induced n-type conductivity. The conducted studies demonstrate that the homogeneity range of the Mg-Sb system, although traditionally considered narrow, has a significant impact on the semiconducting properties of the material. Furthermore, they also point to the need for continued research on high temperature in the area of synthetic defect engineering, interface engineering, and optimization of the thermoelectric properties of materials based on Mg-Sb alloys. Full article
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