Abstract: The invention concerns a metal alloy with large lattice spacings (>than 1 nm), and consisting essentially of, by weight: at least one element selected from a group A consisting of Al, Zn and Cu, total group A elements being 44-92%; at least one element selected from a group B consisting of Ag, Ga and Au, total group B elements being 0-46%, with % group A+group B=88-92%, and ##EQU1## a group C element which is Li in an amount of 7.2-12%; at least one element selected from a group D consisting of Mg, K, Na, and Ca, total group D elements being 0-12%, with % group C+% group D=8-12%, ##EQU2## and % group A+% group B+% group C+% group D=100%; said alloy additionally comprising elemental impurities in an amount of less than 1% each and less than 5% total, based on the total weight of the alloy.