Phase Transformation and Volume Collapse of SmBi under High Pressure

Abstract

The present study reveals the high pressure phase transition and associated volume collapse of SmBi which crystallize in NaCl (B1) structure. To achieve the goal we have used the modified three body interaction potential model (TBIPM) which is applying probably the first time for any compounds in high pressure model study. These interactions arise due to the electron shell deformation of the overlapping ions in the crystals. During phase transition there is an intermediate tetragonal phase which can be viewed as distorted CsCl (B2) structure and finally it transforms to CsCl (B2) phase. The values of phase transition pressure and associated volume collapse estimated by us are found to be well suited with experimental values. Thus our modified TBIPM is in good agreement with available measured data of SmBi.

Keywords: rare-earth compounds, phase transition, van der Waal interactions,