Synthesis of large single-grain 1/1 approximant crystals in the Ag-In-Eu system by the self-flux method

In this work, we investigate single-grain 1/1 quasicrystal approximant crystals, grown via the self-flux method, in the Ag-In-Eu system, the structure of which is similar to the 1/1 approximant in the Cd-Eu system. Due to the similarities between the Cd-RE (RE = rare earth) and Ag-In-RE systems, Ag-In-RE can be regarded as a pseudo-binary phase, in which Ag and In replace Cd. Thus, based on the binary phase diagram of Cd-Eu, the growth conditions, including the nominal composition and decanting temperatures, for single-grain Ag-In-Eu 1/1 approximant crystal growth from indium-rich melt-solution were studied. A faceted, centimeter-sized single-grain 1/1 approximant crystal was obtained and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and back-reflection Laue X-ray diffraction methods. The results are promising for the synthesis of single-grain approximant crystals in other Ag-In-RE systems.