Surface structure of the Ag-In-(rare earth) complex intermetallics

Hars, S, Sharma, HR ORCID: 0000-0003-0456-6258, Smerdon, J, Yadav, TP, Al-Mahboob, A, Ledieu, J, Fournee, V, Tamura, R and Mcgrath, R ORCID: 0000-0002-9880-5741 (2016) Surface structure of the Ag-In-(rare earth) complex intermetallics. Physical Review B, 93 (20).

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.93.205428

Abstract

We present a study of the surface structure of the Ag-In-RE (RE: rare-earth elements Gd, Tb, and Yb) complexintermetallics using scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron diffraction. The surface of theAg-In-Yb approximant prepared by sputter-annealing methods under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions produces aflat (100) surface with no facets. However, the Ag-In-Gd and Ag-In-Tb 1/1 approximants, which have a surfacemiscut of about 12◦relative to the (100) plane, develop surface facets along various crystallographic directions.The structure of each facet can be explained as a truncation of the rhombic triacontahedral clusters, i.e., the mainbuilding blocks of these systems. Despite their differences in atomic structure, symmetry, and density, the facetsshow common features. The facet planes are In rich. The analysis of the nearest-neighbor atom distances suggeststhat In atoms form bonds with the RE atoms, which we suggest is a key factor that stabilizes even low-densityfacet planes.

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2019 10:32
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 00:36
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevB.93.205428
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3050850