J. Li et al., A NOVEL 2-DIMENSIONAL MERCURY ANTIMONY TELLURIDE - LOW-TEMPERATURE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RBHGSBTE3, Journal of alloys and compounds, 262, 1997, pp. 28-33
RbHgSbTe3 (I), a novel two-dimensional quaternary mercury antimony tel
luride, was synthesized via an unconventional low-temperature route. S
ingle crystals of I were grown at 180 degrees C from solvothermal reac
tions using ethylenediamine as solvent. The crystal structure of I was
determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The structure belongs to the
orthorhombic crystal system, space group Cmcm (no. 63), a = 4.590 (2)
Angstrom, b = 15.745 (4) Angstrom, c = 11.737 (2) Angstrom, Z = 4. Th
e crystal structure of this compound consists of two-dimensional layer
s of (2)(infinity)[HgSbTe3-] with Rb+ counterions located between the
layers. Optical studies performed on the powder samples of I suggested
that the compound is a narrow-gap semiconductor. A band-gap of 0.2 eV
was estimated from its diffuse reflectance spectrum. (C) 1997 Elsevie
r Science S.A.