Seeds of L12 clusters in amorphous Mg85Zn6Y9 alloy observed via anomalous X-ray scattering

An anomalous X-ray scattering experiment was performed on an amorphous Mg85Zn6Y9 alloy. The experimental data were analyzed using a reverse Monte Carlo model to examine the existence of the seeds of Zn6Y8 L12 impurity clusters. The results reveal the highly enhanced existence of Zn–Y bonds rather than a random distribution of the impurities in the host Mg atoms. With respect to the theoretical structure of the clusters in the crystal phase, shorter nearest-neighboring Zn–Y and shorter second-neighboring Zn–Zn interatomic distances are observed as the fragments of the L12 clusters.