Discovery and design of inherently layered metal boride MAX and MAB phases

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This proposal focuses on materials discovery and design based on investigations of novel inherently nanolaminated MAX and MAB phases, which offer various possibilities for nanoscale engineering through simultaneous control of structure and composition. High-throughput synthesis in form of thin film multinary materials libraries will be employed for systematic efficient exploration of the inherently nanolaminated materials space in search for new phases with novel structures and improved properties, also motivated by their potential for subsequent transformation into 2D counterparts. New ternary MAX and MAB phases and alloys thereof will be addressed, with particular focus on ordered quaternary alloys and multinary (high-entropy-like) compositions for improved magnetic properties. A novel synthesis technique, targeted element replacement, will also be utilized. This research program will not only expand the families of MAX and MAB phases with a range of new ternary members and alloys in between, represented by multi-dimensional property diagrams for systematic data evaluation and comparison, but will also establish multinary alloying and combinatorial synthesis approaches which to date have been very little explored for this class of materials.