An application of Pettifor structure maps for the identification of pseudo-binary quasicrystalline intermetallics

Quasicrystal-forming ability is considered from the viewpoint of Pettifor maps, where a single phenomenological coordinate, the Mendeleev number, captures the bonding characteristics of elements in forming intermetallics. By considering the largest sized atom as the most important constituent, it is shown that most known ternary and quaternary quasicrystals can be treated as pseudo-binary intermetallics. This also results in a classification of quasicrystals into four structural classes based on the nature of the bond orbital – s, p, d or f – of the large atom with four associated related crystal structures. A colour scheme is introduced to indicate preferences for two types of sites. We propose a new classification of quasicrystals as centred on Li, Mg, Al, Ga, Ca, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf and rare earth elements, as they are the largest atoms in the constituent quasicrystals in contrast to the conventional classification based on majority species.