Synthesis and structural, magnetic, electric, and thermoelectric characterization of layered Rh1-xIrxTe2 (0≤x≤1)

Abstract

Crystallographic analysis and thermoelectric studies of solid solutions Rh1-xIrxTe2 (0≤x≤1) are reported. All compositions show layered structures belonging to the P3¯m1 space group at room temperature. IrTe2 presents a first-order phase transition from the hexagonal to the triclinic lattice (P1¯ space group), which is monitored by synchrotron radiation x-ray powder diffraction. In the cooling-down process the transition appears at 240 K while in the warming-up process it begins at 280 K, showing a remarkable hysteresis. All compositions show a strong metallic behavior with enhanced Pauli paramagnetism and two regimes in the electrical resistivity. These regimes are associated with electron-electron scattering (at low temperature ρ∼T2) and electron-phonon coupling (higher temperatures ρ∼T). The Seebeck coefficient shows hole-type carriers for all the compounds.