Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
We present results from the first extended X-ray absorption fine-structure studies in a Ti/Zrbased quasicrystal. The icosahedral Ti53Zr27Ni20 phase and an icosahedral Ti45Zr38Ni17 phase that also contains 1.7 hydrogen atoms for each metal atom were investigated. Experiments performed above the Ti, Ni and Zr K absorption edges have allowed to identify different types of atomic subshells around the Ti, Ni and Zr atoms. Significant differences are observed between these two quasicrystalline alloys, suggesting preferential sites for the hydrogen atoms.