Observation and Structure Determination of an Oxide Quasicrystal Approximant

We report on the first observation of an approximant structure to the recently discovered two-dimensional oxide quasicrystal. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and surface x-ray diffraction in combination with ab initio calculations, the atomic structure and the bonding scheme are determined. The oxide approximant follows a 3².4.3.4 Archimedean tiling. Ti atoms reside at the corners of each tiling element and are threefold coordinated to oxygen atoms. Ba atoms separate the TiO₃ clusters, leading to a fundamental edge length of the tiling 6.7 Å.