Direct observation of B84 and B156 clusters by high-resolution electron microscopy and crystallographic image processing

Arrangements of B84 and B156 clusters consisting of B12-based icosahedral clusters in B105Al2.6Cu1.8 and B56Y crystals were directly observed by high-resolution electron microscopy and crystallographic image processing. Doping atom positions such as Al, Cu, and Y were also detected in the high-resolution images. The present work indicates that the cluster arrangements with light element of boron could be detected by using the crystallographic image processing technique.