Achieving epitaxy between incommensurate materials by quasicrystalline interlayers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Crystallography
• Surface Science

Background:

• Epitaxy traditionally describes atomic alignment in periodic crystals.
• Quasicrystals, with their unique non-periodic atomic arrangements, present challenges for traditional epitaxy definitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generalize the definition of epitaxy to include quasicrystalline materials.
• To explore the real-space structure of interfaces between quasicrystalline and periodic materials.
• To demonstrate the potential of quasicrystals as interlayers for linking incommensurate materials.

Main Methods:

• Defining epitaxy based on reciprocal lattice point matching.
• Analyzing the real-space consequences of this definition for quasiperiodic/periodic interfaces.
• Presenting an experimental realization of such an interface.

Main Results:

• A generalized definition of epitaxy is proposed, applicable to both periodic and quasicrystalline systems.
• Quasicrystals, possessing numerous reciprocal lattice basis vectors, can serve as epitaxial interlayers.
• This facilitates the linking of incommensurate materials through epitaxial interfaces.

Conclusions:

• The study extends the concept of epitaxy to quasicrystalline materials.
• Reciprocal lattice matching provides a universal criterion for epitaxial interfaces.
• Quasicrystals offer new possibilities for designing complex heterostructures and linking incommensurate materials.