Short-range order and diffuse scattering in a Al-Co-Cr-Cu-Fe-Ni high entropy alloy: an atomic-resolution holography investigation

High-entropy alloy solid solutions are known to be stabilized by their large configurational entropy, contrary to intermetallic alloys. In order to verify the randomness of the atomic occupancy in the crystal structure, several techniques were employed in literature, well demonstrating that high entropy alloys show lattice distortions and short-range ordering. Short to medium range scale correlated disorder can be probed by diffuse scattering from electron, X-ray and neutrons. Transmission electron microscopy is the most widely used technique reporting diffuse scattering on these systems, often associated to short-range ordering. However, such strong statement opened a debate in the literature. Here lies the main focus of this experiment: using atomic resolution holography, we aim to correlate the X-ray and Neutron diffuse scattering observed in an Al-Co-Cr-Cu-Fe-Ni alloy single crystal, to nearest neighbors atomic preferences through element-selective 3D real space reconstructions.