Results are presented for the lattice parameter and magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature for a series of solid solutions of SmS with SmP. At room temperature the SmS~"P"alloys with x «0.06 exhibit a metallic appearance and a much smaller lattice constant and magnetic susceptibility as compared with SmS. For x «0.15 the susceptibilities do not show a Curie-law divergence or magnetic ordering. These properties are consistent with the Sm ions being in a homogeneous intermediate-valence state similar to that of SmS under pressure. The intermediate valence estimated from the lattice parameter is 2.8 at x =0.06 and increases toward the pure trivalent value with increasing phosphorous concentration. Also, the color of the alloys changes from gold to red to silver grey. The alloys with 0.03 & x (0.06 exhibit a varying mixture of two distinct phases, the gold intermediate-valence phase and the black phase characteristic of the x (0.03 alloys. The properties of the black phase are consistent with a mixture of Sm + and Sm + ions where Sm ions with one or more P ions as nearest neighbors are trivalent. The 0.04~x «0.08 alloys exhibit a transition from the gold phase to the black phase with decreasing temperature. This transition which is continuous at higher concentrations changes to a discontinuous one near x =0.06 as seen in the temperature variation of the lattice parameter.
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