Scientific Reports · 2016 · 24 citations · 57 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceCondensed Matter PhysicsCrystal StructureSolid State PhysicsAlloysCrystal LatticeCrystallographyElectron DiffractionX-ray CrystallographyX-ray DiffractionElectron Diffraction Of QuasicrystalsElectron Diffraction Pattern AnalysisMetallurgical Microstructure AnalysisQuasi-crystalsQuasicrystal SymmetryQuasicrystalsSelected Area Electron DiffractionZone Axis
A new kind of decagonal quasicrystal (DQC) with a periodicity of 1.23 nm was observed in the as-cast quaternary Al60Cr20Fe10Si10 alloy. The intensity distribution of some spots in the selected-area electron diffraction pattern along the tenfold zone axis was found to be different from other Al-based DQCs. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy was adopted to reveal the structural features at an atomic level. Both the tenfold symmetry and symmetry-broken decagonal (D) clusters of 1.91 nm in diameter were found, but with structural characteristics different from the corresponding D clusters in the other Al-based DQCs. The neighboring D clusters are connected by sharing one edge rather than covering, suggesting the tiling model is better than the covering model for structural description.
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