The structures, electronic states and properties in liquid Ga–Sb and In–Sb systems

The atomic structures of liquid GaSb and InSb and the electronic structures of liquid GaSb have been studied with the extended X-ray absorption fine structure and the X-ray absorption near edge structure techniques, respectively. The results demonstrate that the melting of GaSb and InSb destroys most of the covalent network. The local atomic arrangement and the density of state around the Fermi level in these liquids exhibit a metallic behavior. However there still exist some covalent bonds in the liquids showing slight features of the crystalline state. The temperature and composition dependence of the electrical properties in liquid Ga(1-x)Sb(x) and In(1-x)Sb(x) (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) were systematically studied with a high measurement accuracy. Some anomalous behavior of the electrical properties in certain compositions was observed. The special character of electronic transport may be due to further structural changes in the liquids at temperatures above their melting points. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.