Crystalline monolayer surface of liquid Au–Cu–Si–Ag–Pd: Metallic glass former

It is demonstrated by means of x-ray synchrotron reflectivity and diffraction that the surface of the liquid phase of the bulk metallic glass forming alloy Au49Cu26.9Si16.3Ag5.5Pd2.3 consists of a two-dimensional crystalline monolayer phase for temperatures of up to about 50 K above the eutectic temperature. The present alloy as well as glass forming Au82Si18 and Au–Si–Ge alloys containing small amounts of Ge are the only metallic liquids to exhibit surface freezing well above the melting temperature. This suggests that the phenomena of surface freezing in metallic liquids and glass forming ability are related and probably governed by similar physical properties.