Atomic structure in Zr70Cu29Pd1 metallic glass

Abstract

Local atomic structures of Pd, Cu, and Zr atoms in an as-prepared Zr70Cu29Pd1 glassy alloy and the annealed samples containing icosahedral quasicrystal have been investigated by Pd, Cu, and Zr K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. It is found that Cu and Zr atoms have an icosahedral atomic surrounding. Cu atoms could locate at both center position and shell sites while Zr atoms most likely occupy the shell sites of icosahedron. Pd atoms neither substitute Zr atoms nor Cu atoms. They sit at octahedral interstices, which link up icosahedron and promote the growth of icosahedron into long-range-order icosahedral quasicrystal in the ternary Zr70Cu29Pd1 glassy alloy during annealing treatment.