Anisotropy of the electric transport properties of decagonal Al–Cu–Co(Fe) quasicrystals

Abstract

The method of growth from a melt solution was used to obtain iron-alloyed (0.08 at %) Al–Cu–Co single crystals with a decagonal symmetry. The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity in magnetic fields of 0–18 T were measured using samples oriented in the periodic direction (ρ_p(T)) and in the quasi-periodic plane (ρ_q(T)). A strong anisotropy of the resistivity was observed; the ρ_p(T) curve is linear, whereas the ρ_q(T) curve is approximated well by a second-order polynomial. A strong anisotropy of the magnetoresistance was also observed; a positive magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ ~ 10^–3 for the current flowing in the quasiperiodic plane; and a weak (close to zero) negative magnetoresistance for the current flowing along the periodic direction.