Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of Mg–Zn–Y quasicrystal alloy

•We discuss the changes of resistivity depending on temperature from 400 K to 1120 K.•We discuss the correlation between the nucleation of quasicrystal and liquid structure.•The ISRO structure acts as a template in the liquid and promotes the nucleation of I-phase.•Icosahedral quasicrystal can reform after remelting assisted inheriting ISROs from I-phase.

Resistivity of Mg63.5Zn34Y2.5 alloy including icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (I-phase) was measured. It shows that the quasicrystal alloy has a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) before melting of I-phase. The TCR shows a reversible transition at ~1073 K during heating and cooling processes, involving evolution of icosahedral short-range orders (ISROs) inheriting from I-phase. The pre-existing ISROs act as templates in liquid and promote the nucleation of I-phase.