Hexagonal approximants of a dodecagonal tantalum telluride — the crystal structure of Ta21Te13

The structure of a hexagonal approximant of the dodecagonal tantalum telluride dd-Ta1.6Te was studied by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. A hierarchical building principle underlying the structures of two other approximants, Ta97Te60 and Ta181Te112, was applied in order to deduce the crystal structure of the approximant with highest tellurium content, Ta21Te13.