High Pressure Phase Transition of CrSb2

Anewhigh-pressure phase of CrSb2 has been synthesized from the marcasite-type ambient pressure phase by high-pressure/temperature treatment above 5. 5 GPa. The crystal structure of the high-pressure phase is body-centered tetragonal, which is assigned as CuAl2-type structure. The bond nature in the high-pressure phase is metallic, in contrast to the mixed ionic and covalent character in the marcasite-type phase. The phase transition, marcasite-type to CuAl2-type, accompanies 11% volume decrease and a change of d-electron character from localized to itinerant.