Phase relations in the Nb-S system at high temperatures

Abstract Phase equilibria in the composition range NbS 2 - Nb 1.5 S 2 were studied by varying the partial pressure of sulfur from 1 to 10 −12 atm at 650, 850, 950 and 1050 °C. Two phases, hexagonal 2s-Nb 1+x S 2 and 3s-Nb 1+x S 2 (in the terminology of Jellinek et al . [1] ), having wide ranges of homogeneity and lattice parameters (hexagonal a axis) which vary with composition, were observed at these temperatures. The electrical conductivities of pressed powders with compositions between Nb 1.12 S 2 and Nb 1.39 S 2 and the magnetic susceptibility of Nb 1.41 S 2 were measured at temperatures from liquid nitrogen temperature to room temperature. Metallic conductivity and nearly temperature-independent paramagnetism were observed.