First-principles study of 4d solute diffusion in nickel

Diffusion of the 4d transition elements in Ni has been investigated within the five-frequency model framework using migration energy barriers calculated from the first principles. Agreement with counterintuitive experimental/calculated data is observed; atoms in the middle of 4d row have the smallest atomic radii while exhibiting the lowest diffusivity as compared to larger atoms at the beginning and the end of 4d row. We show that 4d solute diffusion is controlled mainly by the size misfit. The larger atoms have higher solute–vacancy binding energies and lower migration barriers. Both were shown to correlate with a displacement of the equilibrium solute position toward the adjacent vacancy. The difference in mechanisms controlling sp- and transition elements diffusion rates in Ni is discussed.