A new complex intermetallic phase in the system Al-Cu-Ta with familiar clusters and packing principles.

The structure of hP386-Al(57.4)Cu(3.6)Ta(39.0) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It can be described as a hexagonal close-packing of two types of endohedral fullerene-like clusters with different Frank-Kasper polyhedra filling the gaps. The description of the structure as a superstructure and as a layered structure illustrates other characteristic structural building principles. The diffuse scattering, which can be observed in some of the crystals, is qualitatively well reproduced by a disorder model. A comparison with the structures of the other complex intermetallics in the system Al-Cu-Ta indicates the decisive role that Cu plays in the constitution and packing of the clusters.