Multilayered microstructures achieved by a concentration gradient initial condition via spinodal decomposition evidenced in the Ti–Nb multifunctional alloy

Metals with multilayered structures have attracted much attention due to their excellent mechanical and physical properties. While it remains a challenge to achieve nanolayered structures in bulk materials. Spinodal decomposition is an effective and cost-efficient method for producing nano/micro-scale patterns in bulk materials. However, conventional spinodal decomposition usually forms droplet or interpenetrated microstructures, rather than layered structures. From mechanics’ point of view, microstructures of materials can be tailored by controlling initial or boundary conditions of equations governing the evolution of microstructures. In this work, by employing computer simulations, we show that nano/micro-layered structures can be achieved in bulk materials by setting a special concentration gradient initial condition upon spinodal decomposition. The mechanism is found to be the “inductive effect” of the multilayered boundary condition induced by the concentration gradient initial condition. The findings of this study provide valuable insights and guidance for developing multilayered materials with desired properties.