Evidence of the relationship of the electronic properties of icosahedral boron-rich solids and icosahedral quasicrystals

Optical conductivities and dielectric functions derived from the IR-optical reflectivity spectra exhibit clear similarities between icosahedral boron-rich structures and Al-based isosahedral quasicrystals. This suggests a close qualitative relationship of their electronic structures. Accordingly icosahedral quasicrystals are assumed to be semiconductors with complex band structures qualitatively related to those of boron-rich solids, which are essentially determined by electron-phonon interactions. (C) 1997 Academic Press.