{
  "abstract": "TiNTaN superlattice coatings were designed to investigate how atomic-scale interface chemistry and defect-stabilized TaN layers govern hardness and fracture toughness. Guided by first-principles predictions identifying TaN-based layers as more damage tolerant than TiN, coherent superlattices with a bilayer period of 6 nm were synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering and interfacially doped with C, B, or Si. Structural and chemical analyses reveal coherent fcc architectures with well-defined interfaces. Si segregates preferentially to the interfaces while incorporating into both TiN and TaN, whereas C and B predominantly diffuse into the TaN layers, modifying coherency strain, bonding, and defect populations. Consequently, hardness increases from 34 GPa for the undoped superlattice to 41 GPa for the Si-doped architecture, whereas fracture toughness increases from 2.8 to 4.0 MPam0.5 for the B-doped superlattice. First-principles calculations show that vacancy-stabilized TaxNy enhances elastic compliance and elastic contrast rather than intrinsic toughness, while the additional toughening induced by B indicates localized defect-assisted energy dissipation at chemically engineered interfaces. Thus, Si maximizes interface strengthening, whereas B provides the most favourable hardness-toughness balance while preserving high hardness, 38 GPa. These findings establish interface chemistry as an additional design parameter for tailoring the mechanical performance of ceramic nitride superlattices.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.24607",
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Zecui Gaoa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Qimin Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Julian Buchinger"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nikola Koutna"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marcus Hans"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zaoli Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jochen Schneider"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniel Primetzhofer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Paul Heinz Mayrhofer"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cpxqc53kkt906.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.24607",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cpxqc53kkt906",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.24607",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.24607",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-25",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cpxqc53kkt906.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:48Z",
      "native_id": "2608.24607",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.24607"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Interface-Controlled Defect Engineering in TiN/TaN Superlattices for Enhanced Hardness and Fracture Toughness",
  "title_text": "Interface-Controlled Defect Engineering in TiN/TaN Superlattices for Enhanced Hardness and Fracture Toughness",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cpxqc53kkt906",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1016/j.matdes.2026.116972",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}