Copper nanocubes on Al65Cu20Fe15 quasicrystalline surface

A simple leaching method was developed to synthesize Cu nanocubes having edge length in the range of 50-80 nm on a quasicrystalline surface. The Al65Cu20Fe15(at%) quasicrystalline ribbons (∼2 mm wide, ∼5 cm long and ∼20 μm thick) have been synthesized by melt spinning techniques. The copper nanocubes were formed by leaching these quasicrystalline ribbons with a 5 M aqueous solution of NaOH. Leaching was performed at various times ranging from 1 to 8 hours (h). The samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy which confirm the presence of copper nanocubes on the surface of quasicrystal after 8 h of leaching.