Effect of dopants on grain boundary decohesion of Ni:A first-principles study

First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to determine decohesion properties of Σ 5 ( 012 ) grain boundary of Ni with dopants B, C, S, Cr, and Hf. The relative stability of sites was evaluated and cleavage energies were calculated. Electronic structure was used to understand these properties in terms of changes in bonding with addition of dopants. It was found that strengthening of the Ni grain boundary results from Hf, B, and Cr doping. In contrast, the grain boundary weakens with S and C doping. These results should be useful in the design of next-generation nanostructured Ni-based alloys with improved mechanical behavior.