Discussion on the stability of the antimony-zinc binary phases

Due to the interesting properties of the Sb3Zn4 thermoelectric material, and its potential use as substitute of PbTe, a reliable preparation method of this alloy is required. As contraditions exist not only in the experimental data reported in the literature as well as in the two existent thermodynamic description for the equilibrium phases of the system Sb-Zn, a new investigation on this system was done. As results the existence Sb5Zn6 is not confirmed, the range of homogeneity of the phase Sb3Zn4 is quantitalively determined (56.5-57 at.%Zn), a high temperature transformation of this phase is proposed. An easy method to prepare Sb3Zn4 from the melt is reported. Further work on characterization of the crystal structure of the high temperarure phase as well as a new thermodynamic reassessment is being performed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.