An electrochemically active material includes a silicon alloy material having the formula:

Si.sub.wM.sup.1.sub.xC.sub.yO.sub.z,

where w, x, y, and z represent atomic % values and w+x+y+z=1; M.sup.1 comprises a transition metal; w>0; x>0; y0; and z0. The electrochemically active material also includes a metal-based material having the formula:

M.sup.2.sub.aO.sub.bA.sub.c,

where a, b, and c represent atomic % values and a+b+c=1; M.sup.2 comprises a metal; A is an anion; a>0; b0; and c0.

A method of forming a near field transducer (NFT) layer, the method including depositing a film of a primary element, the film having a film thickness and a film expanse; and implanting at least one secondary element into the primary element, wherein the NFT layer includes the film of the primary element doped with the at least one secondary element.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of identifying a stable phase of an ordering binary alloy system comprising a solute element and a solvent element, the method comprising: determining at least three thermodynamic parameters associated with grain boundary segregation, phase separation, and intermetallic compound formation of the ordering binary alloy system; and identifying the stable phase of the ordering binary alloy system based on the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter by comparing the first thermodynamic parameter, the second thermodynamic parameter and the third thermodynamic parameter with a predetermined set of respective thermodynamic parameters to identify the stable phase; wherein the stable phase is one of a stable nanocrystalline phase, a metastable nanocrystalline phase, and a non-nanocrystalline phase.

An alloy contains Mg, Li, Al, and Zr. A sum of a content of the Mg and a content of the Li is 90 percent by mass or more. A content of the Zr is in a range of 0.6 percent by mass or more and 3.0 percent by mass or less. The alloy also contains Ge and/or Be. A total content of the Ge and/or the Be is in a range of 0.02 percent by mass or more and 0.4 percent by mass or less. The alloy also contains an unevenly distributed portion being smaller than a crystal grain, containing the Zr at a higher content ratio than a content ratio of the Zr in the crystal grain, and containing the Al.

An alloy contains Mg, Li, Al, and Zr. A sum of a content of the Mg and a content of the Li is 90 percent by mass or more. A content of the Zr is in a range of 0.6 percent by mass or more and 3.0 percent by mass or less. The alloy also contains Ge and/or Be. A total content of the Ge and/or the Be is in a range of 0.02 percent by mass or more and 0.4 percent by mass or less. The alloy also contains an unevenly distributed portion being smaller than a crystal grain, containing the Zr at a higher content ratio than a content ratio of the Zr in the crystal grain, and containing the Al.

Disclosed is an AMS process using a water-leachable alloy that reacts with water and dissolves, and a porous metal manufactured using the same. An AMS precursor including element groups that are selected in consideration of the relationship of heat of mixing with the water-leachable alloy composition to be subjected to the AMS process is immersed in the alloy melt, thus manufacturing a bi-continuous structure alloy. The bi-continuous structure alloy is subjected to dealloying using water, thus manufacturing the porous metal. The water-leachable alloy is a Ca-based alloy having high reactivity to water and high oxidation resistance at high temperatures, and a dealloying process thereof is performed using only pure water, unlike a conventional dealloying process performed using a toxic etching solution of a strong acid/strong base. The metal porous body has high elongation, a large surface area, and low thermal conductivity.

A method of forming a near field transducer (NFT) layer, the method including depositing a film of a primary element, the film having a film thickness and a film expanse; and implanting at least one secondary element into the primary element, wherein the NFT layer includes the film of the primary element doped with the at least one secondary element.

This invention disclosed a method for preparing the ultrafine intermetallic particles reinforced metal matrix composites (MMC). The particle size of ultrafine intermetallic particles is about 0.015 m. In this method, intermetallic particles and metal matrix were first ball milled together to get the mixed powder. Then, powders were cold-pressed then vacuum melting with metals to prepare the reinforced metal matrix composites materials. The intermetallic particles addition amount in this is 130 wt %. This invention improve the dispersion properties of intermetallic particles while increase the particle/matrix interface strength. The ultrafine intermetallic particles reinforced MMC shows the very good performance with good ductility and strength.

This invention disclosed a method for preparing the ultrafine intermetallic particles reinforced metal matrix composites (MMC). The particle size of ultrafine intermetallic particles is about 0.015 m. In this method, intermetallic particles and metal matrix were first ball milled together to get the mixed powder. Then, powders were cold-pressed then vacuum melting with metals to prepare the reinforced metal matrix composites materials. The intermetallic particles addition amount in this is 130 wt %. This invention improve the dispersion properties of intermetallic particles while increase the particle/matrix interface strength. The ultrafine intermetallic particles reinforced MMC shows the very good performance with good ductility and strength.