TY - JOUR A1 - Hickel, Tilmann A1 - Waske, Anja A1 - Tehranchi, Ali A1 - Bhattacharya, Biswajit A1 - Stawski, Tomasz M. A1 - Fellinger, Tim-Patrick A1 - Mehmood, Asad A1 - Witt, Julia A1 - Ozcan, Ozlem A1 - Guilherme Buzanich, Ana A1 - Kumar, Sourabh A1 - Mishra, Rajesh Kumar A1 - Holzer, Marco A1 - Stucchi de Camargo, Andrea Simone A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo A1 - Manzoni, Anna A1 - Fantin, Andrea A1 - John, Elisabeth A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bührig, Sophia A1 - Murugan, Jegatheesan A1 - Marschall, Niklas A1 - George, Janine A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza A1 - Maaß, Robert A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Chemically complex materials enable sustainable high-performance materials N2 - Chemically complex materials (CCMats) 􀀀 including high-entropy alloys, oxides, and related multi-principal element systems 􀀀 offer a paradigm shift in materials design by leveraging chemical diversity to simultaneously optimize functional, structural, and sustainability criteria. The vastness of the compositional and structural space in CCMats propels the field into an expanding exploratory state. To reconcile functional and structural performance across this immense parameter space remains an open challenge. This Perspective evaluates the opportunities and challenges associated with harnessing chemical complexity across a broad spectrum of applications, such as hydrogen storage, ionic conductors, catalysis, magnetics, dielectrics, semiconductors, optical materials, and multifunctional structural systems. It is delineated how three central design strategies: targeted substitution (SUB), defect engineering (DEF), and diversity management (DIV) enable the reconciliation of high functional performance with long-term structural stability and environmental responsibility. Advances in computational thermodynamics, microstructure simulations, machine learning, and multimodal characterization are accelerating the exploration and optimization of CCMats, while robust data infrastructures and automated synthesis workflows are emerging as essential tools for navigating their complex compositional space. By fostering cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer and embracing data-driven design, CCMats are poised to deliver next-generation materials solutions that address urgent technological, energy, and environmental demands. KW - Chemically complex materials KW - Structural stability KW - Functional performance KW - Design strategies KW - Sustainability PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655598 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359028626000033?via%3Dihub DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101256 SN - 1359-0286 VL - 42 SP - 1 EP - 26 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-65559 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rashidi, Reza A1 - Vaerst, Olivia A1 - Riechers, Birte A1 - Rösner, Harald A1 - Wilde, Gerhard A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - Atomic-scale strain fluctuations as an origin for elastic microstructures in metallic glasses N2 - Metallic glasses (MGs) exhibit an elastic microstructure that spans from a few to hundreds of nanometers, the origin of which continues to remain poorly understood. Here we employ four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) on a Zr65Cu25Al10 (at. %) bulk MG. Mapping local diffraction patterns over representative areas also probed elastically with automated nanoindentation, two comparable correlation length scales have been identified. Specifically, local diffraction patterns are analyzed with respect to their ellipticity, revealing systematic fluctuations between positive and negative volumetric strains. A power spectrum analysis of the strain fluctuations returns a dominant length scale of the order of 100 nm, which is very much compatible with what elastic property mapping indicates. Annealing reduces the magnitude of the statistical strain fluctuations, without strongly affecting the associated fluctuation length scale. These findings demonstrate that atomic-scale strains are very likely the origin of the structurally unexpected large elastic fluctuations obtained in nanoscale contact mechanics experiments. KW - Metallic glass KW - 4D-STEM KW - Strain anisotropy KW - Nanoindentation KW - Elastic microstructure KW - Heterogeneities PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654991 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2026.121982 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 308 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-65499 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Holzer, Marco A1 - Johansen, Sidsel M. A1 - Christensen, Johan F.S. A1 - Smedskjaer, Morten M. A1 - Cicconi, Maria Rita A1 - de Ligny, Dominique A1 - Müller, Ralf A1 - de Camargo, Andrea S.S. A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - Direct connection between secondary relaxation mode and fracture toughness in alkali-aluminosilicate glasses N2 - Oxide glasses are intrinsically brittle, lacking sufficient atomic-scale mechanisms that can relax mechanical stresses in the vicinity of a propagating crack. As a result, fracture is typically well-captured by considering local bond rupture at the crack tip. Here we demonstrate that barrier energies related to the low-temperature 𝛾-relaxation mode in alkali-aluminosilicate glasses are inversely related to the fracture toughness measured via standardized three-point bending fracture experiments. This holds true for both a series with varying cations (Li, Na, K) and one with varying Li concentration. The structural rationale for this finding is gained via Raman spectroscopy. The findings suggest that a fundamental structural relaxation mode measured on bulk specimens can serve as an effective guideline for fracture toughness of oxide glasses. Data for additional silicate glasses support this conclusion. KW - Fracture toughness KW - Oxide glass KW - Mechanical properties KW - Alkali-aluminosilicate glasses KW - Internal friction PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-651540 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtadv.2025.100669 SN - 2590-0498 VL - 29 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam, Niederlande AN - OPUS4-65154 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dudziak, Mateusz A1 - Riechers, Birte A1 - Maaß, Robert A1 - Michalchuk, Adam A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina T1 - Beyond conventional calorimetry: Unlocking thermal characterization with fast scanning techniques N2 - Fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) has emerged as a transformative technique in thermal analysis, enabling the investigation of rapid and kinetically driven thermal transitions that are inaccessible to conventional differential scanning calorimetry. This review highlights the capabilities enabled by FSC for studying a wide range of materials under extreme thermal conditions, including polymers, pharmaceuticals, metallic glasses, nanocomposites, and hydrogels. By employing ultrafast heating and cooling rates, FSC allows for the suppression of crystallization, resolution of weak transitions, and analysis of thermally labile or size-limited samples. The technique is particularly valuable for probing glass transitions, relaxation phenomena, and phase behavior in systems with complex morphologies or confined geometries. Case studies demonstrate the use of FSC in characterizing vitrification, physical aging, and interfacial dynamics, as well as its application in emerging fields such as additive manufacturing, supramolecular systems, and neuromorphic materials. Together, these examples underscore the role that FSC plays in advancing the understanding of structure-property relationships across diverse material classes. KW - Flash DSC KW - Calorimetry KW - Glass transition PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647405 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tca.2025.180177 VL - 754 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-64740 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kar, Satyakam A1 - Ikeda, Yuki A1 - Nielsch, Kornelius A1 - Reith, Heiko A1 - Maaß, Robert A1 - Fähler, Sebastian T1 - Multiferroic Microstructure Created from Invariant Line Constraint N2 - Ferroic materials enable a multitude of emerging applications, and optimum functional properties are achieved when ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties are coupled to a first‐order ferroelastic transition. In bulk materials, this first‐order transition involves an invariant habit plane, connecting coexisting phases: austenite and martensite. Theory predicts that this plane should converge to a line in thin films, but experimental evidence is missing. Here, the martensitic and magnetic microstructure of a freestanding epitaxial magnetic shape memory film is analyzed. It is shown that the martensite microstructure is determined by an invariant line constraint using lattice parameters of both phases as the only input. This line constraint explains most of the observable features, which differ fundamentally from bulk and constrained films. Furthermore, this finite‐size effect creates a remarkable checkerboard magnetic domain pattern through multiferroic coupling. The findings highlight the decisive role of finite‐size effects in multiferroics. KW - Epitaxial films KW - Finite-size effects KW - Multiferroics KW - Martensite KW - Magnetic shape memory alloys PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-637910 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202416638 SN - 1616-301X VL - 35 IS - 10 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-63791 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zaiser, Erika A1 - Fareed, Adnan A1 - Manzoni, Anna Maria A1 - Paulisch-Rinke, Melanie C. A1 - Hsu, Wei-Che A1 - Yeh, An-Chou A1 - Murakami, Hideyuki A1 - Vogel, Florian A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - Pinning-dominated strengthening in high-entropy superalloys N2 - Hierarchical microstructural design of high-entropy superalloys offers novel strengthening pathways beyond classical superalloys. Here we assess the strength of isolated γ’ precipitates with and without an additional internal γ nanophase. The results show that nano-precipitation within the γ’ phase leads to a marked statistical reduction of the dislocation-nucleation limited yield strength. In concert with disorder-driven chemical weakening of the γ’ phase, these findings indicate that bulk strengthening due to hierarchical microstructural design in high entropy superalloys must primarily be pinning dominated. KW - High-entropy alloys KW - Superalloys KW - Dislocation nucleation KW - Plasticity PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-637590 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116874 SN - 1359-6462 VL - 268 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-63759 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ikeda, Yuki A1 - Han, Seungchang A1 - Wallis, Theophilus A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - On the preference of liquid-metal embrittlement along high-angle grain-boundaries in galvanized steels N2 - Focusing on the early stages of liquid-metal embrittlement (LME) of Zinc (Zn) coated advanced high-strength steels, we show that the Zn infiltration path prior to grain-boundary decohesion and therefore cracking distinctly follows high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs). This selective transport prior to LME-induced microcracking rationalizes the experimentally observed post-mortem cracking along martensitic HAGBs. We discuss the selective Zn transport and GB-weakening in terms of an misorientation-angle dependent atomic density and diffusivity, and its effect on GB-segregation. KW - Liquid-metal embrittlement KW - Advanced high-strength steels KW - Grain boundaries PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-631103 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116723 SN - 1359-6462 VL - 265 SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-63110 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chang, Yen-Ting A1 - Sharda, Abhi A1 - Rosalie, Julian M. A1 - Maaß, Robert A1 - Charpagne, Marie A. T1 - A bcc refractory high-entropy alloy: the ideal case of smooth plastic flow N2 - Single crystalline metals exhibit correlated dislocation dynamics, irrespective of lattice system. This collective evolution of dislocation structures is intermittent and scale-free, implying divergent length scales that play a critical role in failure initiation and therefore microstructural design. Here we report on a HfNbTaTiZr refractory high-entropy alloy, that lacks criticality in the collective dislocation response. This unusual behaviour manifests itself in almost quenched-out microplastic stress-strain fluctuations and sluggish dislocation avalanching, otherwise only seen in complex engineering alloys. These findings demonstrate how the high-entropy paradigm can serve as a role model to effectively suppress unwanted plastic fluctuations in metals deformation. KW - Plasticity KW - Dislocations KW - Avalanches KW - Refractory high-entropy alloys PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-630241 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/21663831.2025.2497860 SN - 2166-3831 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Taylor & Francis Group AN - OPUS4-63024 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chen, Yu A1 - Bo, Zhen-Xing A1 - Zhou, Hong Bo A1 - Sun, Bao-An A1 - Sun, Yong Hao A1 - Maaß, Robert A1 - Wang, Wei Hua T1 - Nanoindentation reveals universal scaling of pop-in plasticity in metallic glasses N2 - Plastic flow of metallic glasses proceeds intermittently in the inhomogeneous deformation regime. Mediated via shear bands, quasi-static straining gives rise to plastic instabilities that are measured as abrupt displacement bursts or pop-ins. The latter is a well-known feature in nanoindentation, where its first occurrence probes the critical and site-specific stress of nano-scale incipient shear deformation. Here we show that the statistical distribution of the stress and magnitude of the first shear instability, as well as its successive higher-order events, universally follow Weibull statistics across ten different metallic glasses. This indicates a fundamentally identical plastic process across glass-forming alloys and progressing deformation that is governed by a weakest-link phenomenon. This finding stands in strong contrast to crystalline alloys, where both defect nucleation and defect-structure evolution control shear instabilities and depend on the deformation history. KW - Metallic glasses KW - Nanoindentation KW - Intermittent flow KW - Pop-ins KW - Weibull distribution PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624772 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.116549 VL - 259 SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-62477 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Riechers, Birte A1 - Das, Amlan A1 - Rashidi, Reza A1 - Dufresne, Eric A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - Metallic glasses: Elastically stiff yet flowing at any stress N2 - Crystalline solids have a minimum stress needed to displace atoms or to move defects. This stress defines the true elastic limit and is generally a sizeable share of the macroscopic yield stress. Here we demonstrate that a metallic glass, an amorphous solid with a yield stress in the giga-pascal regime, lacks such a true microscopic elastic limit. Leveraging in-situ coherent x-ray scattering, we uncover a strongly accelerated atomic-scale transport upon the application of a stress as small as 0.005 times the yield stress. With increasing stress levels, the distribution of structural relaxation times changes from compressed exponential to simple exponential form, revealing a stress–temperature equivalence in the time-scale domain. These findings strongly promote a microstructurally heterogeneous picture of metallic glasses, in which a part of the amorphous microstructure controls macroscopic yielding whereas another part admits microplastic flow at any stress. KW - Metallic glasses KW - Microstructure PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624530 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2024.11.015 VL - 82 SP - 92 EP - 98 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-62453 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -