A Thermodynamic Constraint for the Electronic Structure of Fe-Ni Alloys at Room And High-Temperature

The measurement of the electronic structure of metal alloys is hampered by the in-applicability of conventional quantum oscillation measurements to high-temperatures and alloy scattering. Recent advancements in the study of the electronic contribution to the entropy suggest a path to ground transport properties in alloy equilibrium thermodynamics. Fe-Ni represents an interesting test-case because it exhibits an intricate electronic structure, order-disorder transformations, and a large solid-solution region where equilibrium data can be obtained. Using cluster modeling, the electronic contribution to the entropy can be inferred from high-temperature thermodynamic data. Electronic transport property measurements can be used to independently evaluate the electronic contribution to the entropy. Reconciling these two approaches at high temperature confirms a new path to study electronic structure for metal alloys.