Magnetic Susceptibility Study of Intermediate Valence in the Alloy System Samarium

A series of solid solutions, SmSb sub x S sub (1-x) were prepared by quenching from the molten state. Room temperature lattice parameter and magnetic susceptibility measurements strongly suggest that the samarium ions in the alloy samples exist in an intermediate valence configuration. An analysis of the lattice parameter deviations from Vegard's Rule indicates a conduction electron concentration of approximately 0.1 electron/samarium throughout most of the alloy composition range. Alloy samples with small Sb concentrations yield magnetic susceptibility data consistent with an interpretation that some samarium ions within the crystal are stabilized in the trivalent state. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on the alloy with x = 0.15 indicates the possible existence of a small temperature-induced valence change near T = 160K in this sample.