Cluster self-organization of crystal-forming systems: Suprapolyhedral cluster precursors and self-assembly of the icosahedral structure of ZrZn22(cF184)

The mechanism of self-assembly of symmetrically and topologically different chains and microlayers (in the form of planar nets) from cyclic three-node clusters A ₃ is considered in the model system. The obtained nets correspond to the uninodal Shubnikov nets N 3 12 12 and N 3 6 3 6 and the new binodal net N1 3 6 3 6 + N2 3 3 6 6 (1: 2). A complete three-dimensional reconstruction of the self-assembly of the icosahedral structure of the ZrZn₂₂ compound (cF184) is performed using computer methods (with the TOPOS program package) according to the following scheme: cluster precursor → primary chain → microlayer → microframework (supraprecursor) → ... → framework. It is revealed that the suprapolyhedral cluster precursor (nanocluster ～12 Å in size) of the AB ₂ composition is formed by three polyhedra shared by vertices in a cyclic manner: the A-ZrZn₁₆ polyhedron (sixteen-vertex polyhedron with the point symmetry (bar 4)3m) and two B-ZrZn₁₂ polyhedra (icosahedra with the point symmetry (bar 3) m). The AB ₂ cluster precursor in the structure retains the symmetry m. It is established that the structural mechanism of self-assembly of the two-dimensional layer in the ZrZn₂₂ structure is described by the binodal net N1 3 6 3 6 + N2 3 3 6 6 (1: 2) constructed in the modeling.