Low temperature specific heats of zinc alloyed with silver

Abstract

Measurements of the electronic specific heat coefficient and of the limiting Debye temperature are reported for pure zinc and for two n-phase alloys containing 2 at. % and 4 at. % silver in zinc, respectively. After a correction for electron-phonon enhancement the electronic specific heat coefficient for pure zinc differs by only a small percentage from the calculated value reported in the literature on the basis of a band calculation. The results for the alloys show a decreasing trend of the density of states at the Fermi level when silver is added to zinc. This is contrary to a prediction based on a rigid band approach. Hence, the results indicate a complete breakdown of the rigid band condition on alloying. The reasons for this are most likely associated with the influence of the d band electrons or with charge distribution effects between solute and solvent atoms.