Phase equilibria of Gd-Sn-Te system at Te rich corner

The method of synthesis of the Gd-Sn-Te system alloys as well as the phase equilibria have been described in this paper. Experimental results show that the samples have got phase equilibrium after heat treatment. In the isothermal section of Gd-Sn-Te ternary system at room temperature at Te rich corner(Te ≥ 50 at.%), 4 three-phase regions, i.e. Te + SnTe + GdTe3, GdTe3 + SnTe + GdTe2, Gd2Te3 + SnTe + GdTe2 and Gd2Te3 + (Sn,Gd)Te + GdTe are determined. The solubility of Gd in SnTe is about 11 at.%. The lattice parameters of Sn1−xGdxTe (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) decrease with the increase of Gd content.