Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heterogeneous crystallization and composition dependence of optical parameters in Sn–Sb–Bi–Se chalcogenides

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bulk samples of Sn10Sb20−x Bi x Se70 (0 ≤ x ≤ 8) chalcogenide alloys were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. Thin films were prepared on well-cleaned glass substrates by thermal evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the alloys with x = 0 and 2 at.% of Bi were amorphous, whereas the alloys with x = 4, 6, 8 at.% were crystalline. The crystalline phases are identified as due to the formation of Bi2Se3 and BiSe2 phases. The microstructural and differential scanning calorimetric studies show the presence of these phases. A simple, straight forward procedure suggested by Swanepoel has been used to calculate the optical parameters, refractive index, and extinction coefficient. The optical gap for all the samples has been obtained from the Tauc plots. The variation in optical parameters for different Bi concentration has been explained on the basis of presence of defect states and the change in stoichiometry with the change in Bi concentration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Frerichs R (1950) Phys Rev 78:643

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Frerichs R (1953) J Opt Soc Am 43:1153

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hilton AR (1970) J Non-Cryst Solids 2:28

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cardinal T, Richardson KA, Shim H, Schulte A, Beatty R, Le Foulgoc K, Meneghini C, Viens JF, Villeneuve A (1999) J Non-Cryst Solids 353:256

    Google Scholar 

  5. Efimov OM, Glebov LB, Richardson KA, Van Stryland E, Cardinal T, Park SH, Couzi M, Bruneel JL (2001) Opt Mater 17:379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Stronski AV, Vlcek M, Sklenar A, Shepeljavi PE, Kostyukevich SA, Wagner T (2000) J Non-Cryst Solids 973:266

    Google Scholar 

  7. Saliminia A, Villeneuve A, Galstyan TV, Larochelle S, Richardson K (1999) J Lightwave Technol 17:837

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Morgan WE, Van Wazer JR (1973) J Phys Chem 77:964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Moulder JF, Sticker WF, Sobol PE, Bomben KE (1992) Handbook of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Perkin-Elmer, Eden Prairie, MN

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kastner M (1973) Phys Rev B 7:5237

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tanaka K (1989) Phys Rev B 39:1270

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gurman SJ et al (1989) J Non-Cryst Solids 833:227

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar P, Kumar J, Ahmad M, Thangaraj R (2008) Appl Phys A 90:469

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. El-Korashy A, El-Kabany N, El-Zahed H (2005) Physica B 365:55

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kastner M, Adler D, Fritzsche H (1976) Phys Rev Lett 37:1504

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tohge N, Yamamoto Y, Minami T, Tanaka M (1979) Appl Phys Lett 34:640

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lucovsky G, Nemanich R, Galeener FL (1977) In: Spear W (ed) International conference on amorphous and liquid semiconductors, CICL, University of Edinburg, Edinburg, p 130

  18. Kerr JA (2000) CRC handbook of chemistry and physics, 81st edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pauling L (1967) The nature of the chemical bond. Oxford & IBH, Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  20. Swanepoel R (1983) J Phys E Sci Instrum 16:1214

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tauc J (1979) Amorphous and liquid semiconductors. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Semiconductors Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India

    Muneer Ahmad & R. Thangaraj

  2. Department of Physics, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

    T. Stephen Sathiaraj

Authors
  1. Muneer Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Thangaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Stephen Sathiaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Thangaraj.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmad, M., Thangaraj, R. & Sathiaraj, T.S. Heterogeneous crystallization and composition dependence of optical parameters in Sn–Sb–Bi–Se chalcogenides. J Mater Sci 45, 1231–1236 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-009-4071-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-009-4071-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation