New group of stable icosahedral quasicrystals: structural properties and formation conditions

Abstract

Structural studies on the icosahedral quasicrystals in Zn-Mg-Sc, Cu-Ga-Mg-Sc, and Zn-Mg-Ti alloys as well as their corresponding 1/1 cubic approximants, have revealed that these quasicrystals belong to a new structural group similar to Cd-based quasicrystals. This group is characterized by a triple-shell icosahedral cluster different from both Mackay- and Bergman-types. The presence of the atomic cluster has been deduced from the structure model of the approximant crystal, Zn17Sc3, in which the clusters are embedded in a periodic network of so-called "glue atoms". Density measurement suggested the presence of at least 2.7 Zn atoms in the first shell of the cluster in this approximant. The substitutional relationship in these three quasicrystals indicates the important role of Hume-Rothery rule for the formation of this type of quasicrystal. The occurrence of a P-type icosahedral quasicrystal in Zn-Mg-Yb alloy is also reported.