Author:A.F. Prekul, N.I. Shchegolikhina, A.B. Gaiduchenko, K.I. Grushevsky

Institute: Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Reactor Materials and Technologies National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, Russia; Ural State Pedagogical University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Heat capacity is one of the important physical properties of materials, which describes the ability of a substance to absorb or release heat. In recent years, the attention of researchers has been attracted by icosahedral quasicrystals – unique structures with unusual properties.

In this comparative study, we focus on the heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals in both solid and liquid states. Icosahedral quasicrystals differ from regular crystals in that they exhibit irregular periodicity, resulting in unusual thermodynamic and optical properties.                                          

In our study, we experimentally measured the heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals both in the solid state and when heated to a liquid state. We found that the heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals in the solid state is significantly lower than that of ordinary crystals with the same structure. This is due to their special structure, which provides weaker interatomic interactions.

However, upon transition to the liquid state, the heat capacity of icosahedral quasicrystals turns out to be higher than that of ordinary crystals. This is explained by the more complex movement of atoms in the liquid state and the presence of unusual collective vibrations in the structure of quasicrystals. Thus, icosahedral quasicrystals are of interest for studying their thermodynamic properties. Understanding the heat capacity of these materials in both solid and liquid states will help expand our knowledge of the properties of this unique class of materials.