Many established, but also potential future applications of NiTi-based shape memory alloys (SMA) in biomedical devices and solid-state refrigeration require long fatigue life with 107–109 duty cycles1,2. However, improving the resistance NiTi often compromises other mechanical functional properties3,4. Existing efforts to improve SMA include composition control for coherent phase boundaries5–7 ...

We present the results of a crystallization study on NiTi shape memory thin films in which amorphous films are annealed by a scanning laser. This technique has the advantage that shape memory properties can be spatially distributed as required by the application. A kinetics study shows that nucleation of the crystalline phase occurs homogenously in the films. Consequently, the laser annealing p...