Abstract
Solid solutions in the form of alloy coatings have been obtained for the first time in the Cd concentration range of 64.5% using ion-plasma sputtering and the codeposition of Nb and Cd ultrafine particles. This supports thermal fluctuation melting and the coalescence of fine particles. A coating of niobium and cadmium layers less than 2 nm thick at 68 at % Cd results in the formation of a new phase identified as NbCd2. The tetragonal fcc phase with lattice parameters a = 0.84357 nm and c = 0.54514 nm forms directly during film coating. XRD data for the identification of the intermetallic compound have been determined. The thermal stability of the NbCd 2 intermetallic compound is limited by 200°C. The properties of the synthesized NbCd 2 phase are typical of semiconductors.