First-principles study of Al-Cu energetics and consequences on athermal formation of Cu-rich compounds

In spite of its practical interest, the Al-Cu system remains largely unexplored, especially on its Cu-rich side. In order to improve the knowledge of this system, we perform a thorough ab initio study of fcc-based Al-Cu energetics, using the recently proposed M2BCE reciprocal-space cluster expansion approach. We demonstrate the existence of two clearly distinct composition domains, revealing complex ground-state properties. Below 50% Cu, the GP2-Al3Cu compound appears as highly favored, in agreement with the well-documented transformation sequence in Al-based alloys. Conversely, the domain between 50% and 80% Cu displays a much shallower landscape, characterized by the existence of a wealth of compounds undergoing fcc -> bcc structural instabilities. While such "Bain paths" have been identified for a long time in iron-based alloys, our work gives evidence for their existence in the Al-Cu system. As a striking application, these instabilities provide plausible athermal mechanisms for the formation of Cu-rich phases, in particular for the unexpected emergence of gamma 1-Al4Cu9, a Hume-Rothery compound observed in various nonequilibrium conditions.