Tuning material properties via disorder: From crystalline alloy to metallic glass

Pathways to tune the electronic, chemical, mechanical, and optical properties of solids without modifying their composition represent a new paradigm in design functional sustainable materials. The level structural disorder - from perfectly crystalline fully amorphous – for example, induces remarkable changes material properties. Typically, is introduced by altering material, adding misconception that these two cannot be decoupled. Here, we demonstrate striking differences optical, corrosion CuZr are achieved deliberately reproducibly engineering pulsed laser deposited thin films constant composition. This approach allows tuning structure polycrystalline amorphous, switching nature charge transport metallic semiconductor-like, visible regime opaque transparent, behavior air mixed oxidation formation protective Zr oxide overlayer. Our results highlight tunability alloys its effect on properties, providing opportunity materials based customizing beyond • Deliberately introducing Effect revealed comparing Cu 44 56 layers. Disorder drastic electronic propertie.