Structural modifications upon deposition of Fe on the icosahedral quasicrystal Al–Pd–Mn

We have deposited Fe on a clean pentagonal surface of an Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal kept at ∼340 K. For low coverages, Fe diffuses into the bulk and destroys the quasicrystalline atomic order. At coverages higher than ∼0.8 nm, some Al is present in the film, which shows magnetic ordering. This is characteristic of only AlFe 3 or Fe diluted with Al. This surface consists of five cubic domains in rotational alignment with the quasicrystalline substrate. For a film more than ∼1.6 nm thick, the Fe domains additionally show a tilting of 0.5° each. Removal of Fe by ion sputtering leaves the surface structure strongly modified due to depletion of Al as a result of alloying with Fe.