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Compositional effects accompanying near equilibrium vapour growth of solid solution crystals of the types IV‐VI and II‐VI
Author(s) -
Szczerbakow A.,
Durose K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.201000117
Subject(s) - solid solution , ampoule , thermodynamics , condensation , chemistry , crystal (programming language) , crystal growth , mother liquor , phase diagram , vapor pressure , entropy (arrow of time) , phase (matter) , crystallography , crystallization , physics , organic chemistry , computer science , programming language
Near equilibrium evaporation‐condensation in a sealed ampoule leads to almost full compositional reproduction of a solid solution if it consists of components having comparable vapour pressures; this can be qualitatively interpreted by domination of entropy increase. Nevertheless, even vestigial separation requires closer characteristics, since it may prove crucial – particularly for properties of semiconducting solid solutions. Maximum component separation allowed by a small temperature difference is described here in terms of thermodynamics and kinetics of solid‐vapour and vapour‐solid phase transitions. Theoretical models of the determining effects having different character are shortly described, and their applicability areas are determined. Experimental data collected for crystal growth of numerous semiconducting solid solutions of the II‐VI and IV‐VI type support the conclusion drawn from the models that the near equilibrium crystal growth from the vapour in a closed system ensures the highest degree of compositional uniformity. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)