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A simple experimental method is developed that employs the Kelvin-probe technique to measure the electron work function. Results reveal that the electron work functions of brittle intermetallics are always higher than those of the component metals and it can be used as a direct indicator of embrittlement of intermetallies.

A series of isostructural compounds R5Ga3 (R = Sc, Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu) are shown to have a new distorted version of the familiar Mn5Si3 structure type. The electronic calculations reveal that the distortion and formation of Ga2 anions allows a significant displacement of antibonding dimer levels above E(sub F) and an appreciable lowering of Ga-Ga and Ga-Sc states just below E(sub F).

The pressure-induced intermetallic valence transition in BiNi[O.sub.3] perovskite is explained. The compound is found to exhibit multiple electronic instabilities.

Nanocrystals of intermetallic compounds undergo facile solution-mediated reactions to form derivative phases, where these intermetallics can be used as reagents for the low-temperature solution synthesis of other intermetallic phases. This work has added to a growing toolbox of low-temperature reactions for accessing nanocrystalline alloys and intermetallics and also has helped in the formation of new and complex solids.

A thermodynamic model was developed for calculating the probabilities of atomic substitutions in different sites in intermetallic compounds. The model considers three contributions that are chemical, elastic and structural, in calculating the changes that occur in the enthalpy due to the atomic substitutions at different sites in intermetallic compounds.