Nanocluster Model of Intermetallic Compounds with Giant Unit Cells: β,β′-Mg2Al3 Polymorphs

A novel method for the computational description of intermetallics as an assembly of nanoclusters was improved and applied to extremely complicated crystal structures of beta,beta'-Mg2Al3 polymorphs. Using the TOPOS program package that implements the method, we separated two types of two-shell primary nanoclusters A, A1, A2, and B consisting of 57-63 atoms that completely compose the structures of the polymorphs. The nanocluster model interprets structural disordering in beta-Mg2Al3: the disordered atoms form the inner shell of the nanocluster A, while the outer shells of all nanoclusters are preserved. The self-assembly of the beta, beta'-Mg2Al3 crystal structures was considered within the hierarchical scheme: 0D primary polyhedral clusters (coordination polyhedra) -> OD two-shell primary nanoclusters A, A1, A2, or B -> OD supracluster-precursor AB(2) -> 1D primary chain -> 2D microlayer -> 3D microframework. The self-assembly scheme proves the similarity of beta, beta'-Mg2Al3 to other extremely complicated Samson's phases, NaCd2 and ZrZn22; the spatial arrangement of the centers of nanoclusters in these structures as well as the topology of the corresponding network conform to the Laves phase MgCu2. Using the TOPOS procedure of searching for finite fragments in infinite nets we found that nanocluster B is a typical fragment of intermetallic compounds: it exists in intermetallics belonging to 42 Pearson classes. The nanocluster A was found only in two Pearson classes: cF464 and hP238, while the nanoclusters A1 and A2 occur in beta'-Mg2Al3 only. Thus, the nanoclusters A, A1, and A2 can be considered as determinants of the corresponding structures.