i-R-Cd (R = Gd - Tm, Y): A new family of binary magnetic icosahedral quasicrystals

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a new family of binary magnetic icosahedral quasicrystals, expanding the known set of magnetic quasicrystalline materials with potential for novel magnetic properties.

Contribution

The authors discovered a new family of at least seven rare earth icosahedral quasicrystals, including the first model system for magnetic quasicrystals in the R-Cd family.

Findings

Identified a new family of magnetic quasicrystals with R = Gd - Tm, Y.

Established i-R-Cd as a model system for magnetic quasicrystals.

Expanded the known set of moment bearing binary quasicrystals.

Abstract

"Seek and ye shall find, the unsought shall go undetected." This adage, attributed to Aristophanes' can be considered one of the defining mantras of new materials research; if you don't look, you certainly will not discover. As a result of our recent discovery of the binary quasicrystalline phase i-Sc12Zn88 we proposed that there may well be other binary quasicrystalline phases lurking nearby known crystalline approximants, perhaps as peritectally forming compounds with very limited liquidus surfaces, offering greatly reduced ranges of composition/temperature for primary solidification. Here we report that, as the adage goes, we have found. Indeed, adjacent to the RCd6, cubic approximate structure, we have discovered the long sought after model system for magnetic quasicrystals: a new family of at least seven rare earth icosahedral quasicrystals: i-R-Cd for R = Gd - Tm, Y, six of which now form the known set of moment bearing, binary quasicrystals.