Fabrication of High Quality QC Films via the Route of the Amorphous Phase

We discuss the preparation of thin icosahedral films (Al-Cu-Fe and Al-Pd-Re) via the route of the amorphous (a-)phase which in some aspects is a precursor to the icosahedral phase. A direct transition from the a- to the i-phase occurs for Al-Cu-Fe films at 430 C on the time scale of minutes. The resulting films are of good quality as shown by diffraction and electronic transport properties. The surface of the resulting films is very smooth.