Structure of the fivefold surface of the Ag-In-Yb icosahedral quasicrystal

Abstract

The surface structural study of an icosahedral $(i)$ quasicrystal of the Cd-Yb family is presented. Comparison of bias-dependent scanning tunneling microscopy data from the fivefold surface of $i\text{-Ag-In-Yb}$ with the refined bulk model of isostructural $i\text{-Cd-Yb}$ indicates that surfaces are formed at bulk planes intersecting the center of the rhombic triacontahedral clusters, the building blocks of the Cd-Yb family quasicrystals. These observations open up the possibility of the use of this material as a template for epitaxial structures.