An ordered arrangement of columnar clusters of atoms in a rhombic quasiperiodic lattice in an Al-Ni-Co decagonal phase

We have found that the structure of an Al-Ni-Co decagonal quasicrystal, whi ch shows a diffraction pattern with many superlattice reflections (called a 'type I superlattice'), can be described as an ordered arrangement of two kinds of atomic columnar cluster with different orientations of their penta gonal symmetry. The fundamental lattice, which is constructed by connecting the clusters, is a rhombic quasiperiodic lattice with a bond length of abo ut 2 nm. The two kinds of cluster are placed at the lattice points in a def inite,manner such that the two connected clusters have different orientatio ns.