Abstract
The C36 Laves phase Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ has been re-investigated in order to study phase stability and structure. Constitutional data have been obtained by investigating homogenized single- and two-phase samples and from diffusion couples. The C36 phase Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ crystallizes with hexagonal MgNi~2~ structure type (Z = 8, space group P__6~3~/mmc, a = 4.7414(4) Å and c = 15.458(1) Å at x = 0.265(4)). The homogeneity range extends from 24.6(2) to 25.3(5) at% Nb. The temperature range of the phase field is limited by a eutectoid (C36 Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ = Nb~2~Co~7~ + C15 NbCo~2~) and a peritectic (L + C15 NbCo~2~ = C36 Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~) reaction at ∼ 1050 °C and 1264 °C, respectively. In addition, the title phase is involved in the peritectoid reaction Co(Nb) + C36 Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ = Nb~2~Co~7~ at 1086 °C and in the eutectic reaction L = Co(Nb) + C36 Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ at 1239 °C. The C36 and C15 Laves phases of the Nb—Co system are separated by an extremely small two-phase field (<0.5 at%). The crystal structure exhibits pronounced deviations from ideal parameters obtained from a hard sphere model. The Co network displays a type of distortion known from many hexagonal Laves phases. Kagom, layers display an elongation of the Co—Co edges of the basal triangles of Co~5~ trigonal bipyramids and a contraction of Co—Co edges of the uncapped triangles. The Nb atoms are also displaced from their idealized sites. In the crystal structure of C36 Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ excess Co atoms randomly substitute Nb atoms — (Nb~1–x~Co~x~__)Co~2~. The excess Co atoms occupy preferentially the Nb2 site approximately twice as much as Nb1. These positions differ mainly in the conformation of the corresponding Nb~6~Nb~2~ fragments (Nb1—Nb1 eclipsed and Nb2–Nb2 staggered). In addition, Co atoms are displaced from the original Nb positions. The distortion of the Co and the Nb network is a consequence of the bonding situation of the defect-free crystal structure. The preferential site occupation of excess Co atoms is triggered by interactions with atoms beyond the first coordination shell. The C36 phase Nb~1–x~Co~2+x~ exhibits Pauli-paramagnetic behavior (χ
~P~ = +1.31 · 10^–3^ emu mol^–1^). The temperature dependent part of the electrical resistivity ρ(300 K) – ρ
~0~ is only 17 μΩ cm whereas the residual resistivity is very large with ρ
~0~ = 140 μΩ cm indicating strong structural disorder.