Crystal Structures of Al2Cu Revisited: Understanding Existing Phases and Exploring Other Potential Phases

When processing single crystal X-ray diffraction datasets for twins of Al2Cu sample synthesized by the high-pressure sintering (HPS) method, we have clarified why the crystal structure of Al2Cu was incorrectly solved about a century ago. The structural relationships between all existing Al2Cu phases, including the Owen-, theta-, theta'-, and Omega-Al2Cu phases, were investigated and established based on a proposed pseudo Al2Cu phase. Two potential phases have been built up by adjusting the packing sequences of A/B layers of Al atoms that were inherent in all existing Al2Cu phases. The mechanical, thermal, and dynamical stability of two such novel phases and their electronic properties were investigated by first-principles calculations.