LARGE CLUSTERS IN LIQUID POTASSIUM-THALLIUM ALLOYS

Neutron diffraction measurements on liquid KTl were performed using Tl -205 isotope substitution. The measurement gives evidence for the occu rrence of Tl-clusters with an average mutual distance of 0.96 nm. The structure in liquid KTl is compared with the crystal structures of KTl and K8Tl11, where resp. Tl-6 and Tl-11 clusters occur. To extend the search for analogies in the structure of liquid and solid alloys, we a lso measured liquid K8Tl11, K8Tl10Zn, K10Tl10Pd, and K18Tl20Au3, they all exhibit interesting crystal structures with large clusters (Tl-11, Tl10Zn, Tl10Pd and Tl9Au2). Indeed, some similarities are found betwe en the structures in these liquid alloys and their solid counterparts.