ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE CALCULATIONS OF SELF-ORGANIZED PBS-BI2S3-(AG2S)(113) TWINNING SUPERLATTICES

The electronic structure of natural, self-organized twinning superlatt ices based on PbS-Bi2S3 and PbSBi2S3-Ag2S alloys is calculated and dis cussed. Superlattices based on PbS-Bi2S3 are predicted to be semicondu ctors, having subbands separated by significant minigaps, as in the co nventional ''manmade'' superlattices. On the other hand, the two varia tions of PbS-Bi2S3-Ag2S superlattices that we have proposed calculatio ns on, are likely to be semimetals. Since these self-organized superla ttices should boast high stability against interdiffusion and interfac e roughness problems, we believe they merit further theoretical and ex perimental research,and may be found to be suitable for possible appli cations. [S0163-1829(98)07207-5].