Electronic transport properties of quasicrystalline thin films

We focus on the question if electronic transport properties of quasicrystal s can be understood by a Hume-Rothery like interaction between the atomic s tructure and the electronic system. Therefore, we report about composition and temperature dependent investigations of the electrical conductivity, th e thermopower and the Hall effect of quasicrystalline films, mainly for i-A l-Pd-Re and i-Al-Cu-Fe and compare it to the amorphous counterparts which a re known to be electronically stabilized and are much simpler to understand due to their isotropy. Thin films provide the possibility to measure the thermopower and the Hall effect at elevated temperatures up to 1000 K. Both indicate a strongly incr easing charge-carrier density as a function of temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.