Using ab initio total energy calculations, we have found that K(Al_13) can form a metastable crystal with the CsCl structure, even though K and Al are immiscible in solid solution. The Al_13 cluster has cuboctahedral symmetry, unlike in the gas phase where it is icosahedral. The system is metallic, and is table agaisnt lattice distortions. These resuts provide evidence that a new class of solids incorporating metal clusters as meta-atoms may be possible.
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