Evidence of the Relationship of the Electronic Properties of Icosahedral Boron-Rich Solids and Icosahedral Quasicrystals

Abstract

Optical conductivities and dielectric functions derived from the IR-optical reflectivity spectra exhibit clear similarities between icosahedral boron-rich structures and Al-based isosahedral quasicyrstals. This suggests a close qualitative relationship of their electronic structures. Accordingly icosahedral quasicrystals are assumed to be semiconductors with complex band structures qualitatively related to those of boron-rich solids, which are essentially determined by electron–phonon interactions.