Nanostructure of Au-20%Pd layers in MoS2 multilayer solid lubricant films

High-resolution electron microscopy imaging and electron and X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to characterize the structure of low and high flux Au-20%Pd layers in Au-20%Pd/MoS2 multilayer solid lubricant thin films. Images clearly reveal different morphologies for the metal layers in the two flux regimes, which can be correlated to the variation in fracture resistance reported by an earlier indentation study. In the lower metal flux regime, three-dimensional islands with single-crystal and multiply twinned structures are seen, while quasi-continuous, polycrystalline regions are seen in the higher flux case.