Tailoring of misfit along interfaces between ZnxMn3–xO4 and Ag

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 {111} 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 {111} Ag–ZnxMn3–xO4 interfaces with different degree of mismatch.