Sulphur adsorption on the fivefold surface of the i-Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal

The adsorption of sulphur on the fivefold flat-terraced surface of the icosahedral Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal (i-Al–Pd–Mn) has been studied using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), Auger electron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Surface EXAFS data collected by Auger electron yield from the S saturated surface give average bond lengths for S–Al and S–Pd of 2.10±0.06 and 2.40±0.06 Å respectively. The data indicate that single-site adsorption on the unreconstructed surface may be ruled out; this is consistent with near-edge EXAFS data and the disappearance of the LEED pattern upon adsorption of sub-monolayer amounts of S. The implication of this finding is that adsorbate-induced reconstruction and/or multiple-site adsorption occurs in this system.