Structural phase transition of ScSb and YSb with a NaCl-type structure at high pressures

By use of synchrotron radiation, powder X-ray diffraction of ScSb and YSb with a NaCl-type structure has been studied up to 45 GPa at room temperature. A first-order phase transition from the NaCl-type (B I) to a CsCl-type structure (132) began to occur at around 28 GPa for ScSb and at around 26 GPa for YSb. Crystal data of the high-pressure phase of both antimonides are obtained. The high-pressure structural behavior of ScSb and YSb is similar to that of heavier LnSb (Ln = Dy-Lu). The B1-B2 transition for ScSb and YSb can be understood according to the rigid sphere model. The bulk moduli of ScSb and YSb are about 58 GPa at ambient pressure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.