The Structure of the (100) Surface of Ag-In-Gd 1/1 Approximant

Scanning tunneling microscopy is employed to characterise the structure and morphology of the (100) surface of the Ag-In-Gd 1/1 approximant. The surface prepared by the usual method of sputter-annealing produces step-terrace structure. Observed step heights are consistent with the lattice constant of the bulk. Scanning tunneling microscopy on terraces reveals cluster-like protrusions arranged with a square unit cell as expected from the bulk. It has not been possible to assign the terraces to the specific bulk planes because of lack of atomic resolution on terraces.