The UV-vis-NIR and electrical properties of Yb_{8-x}Y_xV_2O₁₇ for x=0, 2, and 8 were investigated. The band energy gap of 2.6 eV determined for Yb_6Y_2V_2O₁₇ (x=2) and comparable for the remaining compounds with x=0 and 8 is characteristic for insulators. Low electrical conductivity with a characteristic minimum shifting to higher temperatures from 322, via 360 to 370 K in the sequence x=0, 2 and 8, which decreases with increasing content of ytterbium was observed. Temperature dependence of thermoelectric power showed n-p transition at 410 and 467 K for x=0 and 2, respectively, and n-type conductivity for x=8, indicating mainly n-type electrical conductivity. A breakdown voltage of 26 V/mm is mainly observed for the I-V characteristics at 400 K and showing a varistor-like behavior.
We have predicted the phase transition pressure (PT)and high pressure behavior of Zirconium and Niobium carbide (ZrC, NbC). The high pressure structural phase transitions in ZrC and NbC has been studied by using a two body inter-ionic potential model, which includes the Coulomb screening effect, due to the semi-metallic nature of these compounds. These transition metal carbides have been found to undergo NaCl (B1) to CsCl (B2)-type structural phase transition, at high pressure like other binary systems. We predict such structural transformation in ZrC and NbC at a pressure of 98GPa and 85GPa respectively. We have also predicted second order elastic constant and bulk modulus. The present theoretical work has been compared with the corresponding experimental data and prediction of LAPW and GGA and LDA theories.
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