Oxidation of Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal surfaces

The oxidation of both, quasicrystalline and crystalline surfaces of an icosahedral Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal cut perpendicular to its five-fold axis and of Al(1 1 1) has been studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction and X-ray photoelectron diffraction. The oxidation of the elements of the alloy is quantified and compared for the different phases and Al(1 1 1). The quasicrystalline surface is found to react less with oxygen than the crystalline surface and more rapidly compared to Al(1 1 1). The observed behaviour is discussed in terms of the termination of the corresponding surfaces.