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 Zn₆Y₈L1₂ 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.