The V-Cu-Sb ternary system at 773Â K: Crystal, band structure, and physical properties

The component interaction in the V-Cu-Sb ternary system was studied at 773 K by X-ray and EPM analyses in the whole concentration range. One new ternary compound V2Cu3Sb4 was found. The structure of V2Cu3Sb4 (Z = 2, space group P63/mmc - hgdca, a = 0.852905(5), c = 0.529456(4) nm, RI = 0.0302) represents a new structure type of intermetallic compounds belonging to AlB2-family, and is derived from high-temperature modification of V1.5Sb phase (Ni2In-type). The magnetic and electrical property measurements showed that V2Cu3Sb4 compound is a Pauli paramagnet and characterized by metallic behavior of conductivity. The band structure calculations of V2Cu3Sb4 using the FP-LAPW method confirmed the metallic type of conductivity.