New quasicrystals with rare-earth elements and Li are synthesized with the self-flux method. The starting composition involves 62.8 at.% Zn, 28.6 at.% Mg, 3.6 at. % rare-earth and 5% Li. Alternatively, 66 at.% Zn, 24.8 at.% Mg, 3.9 at.% rare-earth and 5.3% Li can be used. Both syntheses result in quasicrystals exhibiting differences in the quasilattice constant which is additionally correlated with the size of the rare-earth atom. Monocrystal X-ray diffraction reveals that Li substitutes the rare-earth element found in the center of the Tsai cluster. The substitution of Li for the rare-earth element not only changes the electron-to-atom ratio but also changes the distribution of magnetic-moment-bearing elements which can affect magnetic properties.
Bugański et al. (2026) studied this question.