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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Three novel phases in the Sm-Co-Ga system. Syntheses, crystal and electronic structures, and electrical and magnetic
YongZhong Jia1, Claude Belin, Monique Tillard
1Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR 5253 CNRS UM2, AIME, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Université de Montpellier II, CC15, 2 Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Abstract:
This paper presents the synthesis, identification, and characterization of three novel phases in the ternary system Sm-Co-Ga: SmCoGa5 (tP7, HoCoGa5 type, tetragonal P4/mmm, Z = 1, a = 4.2419(3) A, and c = 6.8559(5) A), Sm4Co3Ga16 (tP23, tetragonal P4/mmm, Z = 1, a = 6.0620(5) A, and c = 11.1495(9) A), and SmCoGa4 (oC24, YNiAl4 type, orthorhombic Cmcm, Z = 4, a = 4.1246(6) A, b = 15.608(2) A, and c = 6.4556(9) A). The structure of SmCoGa5 was obtained from a multiphase X-ray powder Rietveld refinement whereas the crystal structures of the other two phases were determined from single-crystal X-ray analysis. Electronic structures were calculated for all phases by first-principles DFT methods. The atomic arrangements and bonding are discussed on the basis of the partial anionic networks involving Co and Ga atoms, and a strong structural correlation is observed between SmCoGa5 and Sm4Co3Ga16. The latter, which displays paramagnetic behavior, has a resistivity of 4.2 microOmega.cm at 3 K and undergoes a superconducting transition at 2.8 K.
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