Atomic structure of an AlCoNi decagonal quasicrystalline surface

J. Yuhara, J. Klikovits, M. Schmid, P. Varga, Y. Yokoyama, T. Shishido, and K. Soda
Phys. Rev. B 70, 024203 – Published 7 July 2004

Abstract

We have analyzed the structure and composition of the first layer of an Al72Co16Ni12 tenfold surface by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). High-resolution STM images reveal local structures that have decagonal symmetry in addition to the usual pentagonal symmetry of the surface. This quasicrystal surface resembles a random tiling instead of an ideal quasiperiodic tiling. After annealing at 1100K, the total surface atomic density found by ISS is (9±1)×1014cm2. The surface densities of Al and TM (transition metal, i.e., Co and Ni) are determined as (8±1)×1014cm2 and (1.0±0.2)×1014cm2, respectively from ISS, indicating a similar density of Al and much lower density of the TM atoms in the surface layer than in a truncated bulk. The Al surface atomic density agrees well with the number of corrugation maxima in the STM images. A model of the arrangement of the Al atoms in the top layer is presented. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) is performed to study the local electronic structure. The STS spectrum at the corrugation maxima is similar to that at the corrugation minima. A few 0.12nm high protrusions in the STM images are attributed to local oxide clusters due to their STS spectra different from the corrugation maxima and through in situ STM observations during exposure to O2 gas at 2×106Pa at RT.

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  • Received 23 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.70.024203

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Yuhara1,*, J. Klikovits2, M. Schmid2, P. Varga2, Y. Yokoyama3, T. Shishido4, and K. Soda5

  • 1Department of Physical Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
  • 2Institut für Allgemeine Physik, Technische Universität Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, A-1040 Wien, Austria
  • 3Faculty of Engineering, Himeji Institute of Technology, Shosha, Himeji 671-2201, Japan
  • 4Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
  • 5Department of Crystalline Materials Science, School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan

  • *Corresponding author. Electronic address: j-yuhara@nucl.nagoya-u.ac.jp

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Issue

Vol. 70, Iss. 2 — 1 July 2004

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