SOLID-SOLUTIONS ZRNI1-XMXSN (M = CR, MN, CU) AND THEIR ELECTRICAL ANDMAGNETIC-PROPERTIES

Solid solutions of ZrNi1-xMxSn (M = Cr, Mn, Cu) were obtained on the b asis of the ZrNiSn semiconducting compound with MgAgAs structure type. X-ray analysis was used to define the stability range of solid soluti ons: x = 0.4, 0.5, and 0.1 for Cr, Mn, and Cu, respectively. The tempe rature dependence of resistivity changes from semiconducting to metall ic type with increasing x; the thermopower remains negative for all in vestigated samples. The temperature dependence of the magnetic suscept ibility for ZrNi1-xMnxSn and ZrNi1-xCr(x)Sn can be described approxima tely by Curie-Weiss law, and the onset of a spontaneous magnetization occurs for small quantities of Mn or Cr. Solid solutions with Cu are p aramagnetic. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.