Pressure-induced formation of intermediate-valence quasicrystalline systems in Yb-based alloys

Watanuki, Tetsu; Kawana, Daichi*; Machida, Akihiko; Tsai, A. P.*

Quasiperiodic intermediate-valence systems were prepared by applying pressure to Yb-based quasicrystals. In these systems, each quasiperiodic lattice point has a charge degree of freedom. Synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments near the Yb -edge demonstrate that the Yb valence in a Cd-Yb icosahedral quasicrystal increases continuously upon compression from a divalent state at ambient pressure and reaches 2.33 at 31.7 GPa, where the quasiperiodically arranged Yb ions take a valence fluctuation state. For the case of a Cd-Mg-Yb icosahedral quasicrystal, the Yb valence reaches a value of 2.71 at 57.6 GPa. By following the trend of Yb-based intermediate-valence crystalline compounds, this large valence increase suggests that the 4f electron system in this quasicrystal varies from a valence fluctuation regime to a strong correlated electron regime.