Transition metals:d-band hybridization, electronegativities and structural stability of intermetallic compounds

Abstract

An electronegativity scale is derived for the noble and transition metals, based on their electron-band theory description. The tendency of $d$-band electron and hole states to hybridize is used to estimate the propensity for a particular metal to gain or lose $d$-electron count and this, in turn, is used to provide the basis of the electronegativity scale. Overall agreement of this scale with Miedema's and Pauling's electronegativity is remarkably good, granted the widely divergent bases of the three scales. The results, combined with an average electron vacancy count, are then used in structural maps of transition-metal-transition-metal alloy systems.