Pressure-temperature phase diagrams for Nb 3In and Nb 3Bi

Abstract

Using high-pressure high-temperature techniques pressure temperature phase diagrams were constructed for Nb 3In and Nb 3Bi. This investigation resulted in the identification of a new metastable β-wolfram compound, Nb 3Bi, with a lattice parameter of a 0 = 5.320 Å. New bodycentered cubic alloy phases were also identified in both systems. The superconducting transition for the Nb 3Bi was found to be 3.05°K. A hypothesis for the high pressure formation of these compounds is presented.