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A Distinctive Feature of the Surface Structure of Quasicrystals: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Heterogeneity
Author(s) -
Thiel Patricia A.,
Ünal Barış,
Jenks Cynthia J.,
Goldman Alan I.,
Canfield Paul C.,
Lograsso Thomas A.,
Evans James W.,
Quiquandon Marianne,
Gratias Denis,
Van Hove Michel A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201100148
Subject(s) - metastability , chemistry , quasicrystal , feature (linguistics) , surface (topology) , yield (engineering) , chemisorption , chemical physics , adsorption , distinctive feature , statistical physics , crystallography , thermodynamics , geometry , physics , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , organic chemistry
This paper reviews a feature of atomically‐clean quasicrystal surfaces that distinguishes them from surfaces of crystalline materials. That feature is a high degree of heterogeneity among different terraces, and among structurally‐identical adsorption sites. The heterogeneity can be both structural and chemical in origin. A large variability is expected even for a surface which is perfectly bulk‐terminated, and we call this intrinsic heterogeneity. Additional variability can derive from the surface preparation process, which can yield metastable structures. We call this extrinsic heterogeneity. Experimental evidence is given for both cases. This heterogeneity can be an important factor in understanding and predicting surface phenomena such as chemisorption.