Resistivities and band structures of alkaline-earth-pnictide systems

The electrical resistivities p of the liquid Sr-Bi and Sr-Sb alloys have been determined for compositions covering the whole concentration range. Plotted as a function of composition the results resemble those obtained previously for Mg-Bi by other authors. There is a very sharp resistivity maximum at 60 at.% Sr, well up into the semiconducting range. The band structure of solid Mg3Bi2 has been calculated using the augmented spherical wave (ASW) method. No gap has been found and it is concluded that solid Mg3Bi2 is metallic, in agreement with measurements found in the literature dating from the thirties and before. These measurements were checked and extended through the melting point. Finally, a band-structure calculation was carried out for Mg3Sb2, which is a semiconductor in the crystalline as well as in the liquid state