Structure and Electrical Conductivity of Ag-Doped TiZrNi Quasicrystals

Abstract

To investigate the structure and electrical conductivity of Ag-doped TiZrNi quasicrystals, alloys of (Ti53Zr27Ni20)(100) Ag-x(x) (where, x = 0, 4 and 8) were arc-melted and rapidly quenched in an Ar atmosphere. After optimum quenching, the results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that the samples have a pure quasicrystal structure. The quasicrystal structure remained to the maximum 8 at.% of Ag without a significant change in the quasi-lattice constant value, 5.12 angstrom. The specific electrical resistance values of the quasicrystals increased from 4.21 to 5.47x10(-4) Omega. cm with increasing Ag contents from 0 to 8 at.% whereas the coherence lengths decreased from 119 to 93 angstrom accordingly. It is interesting to note that the reduction in the electrical conductivity with the increase in Ag contents is mainly due to the structural incoherence factor, not the atomic conductivity of Ag.