Single crystals of CdAl2S4 and CdAl2Se4 showing high transparency were
grown by the chemical vapour transport method. Their composition was
proven by microprobe analysis. Structural investigations were done by
Rietveld refinements and are in good agreement with known structure da
ta. From transmittance and reflectance measurements the energy of the
band gap was estimated. Assuming a direct nature of the corresponding
optical transition the following values were obtained: E-g = 3.82 eV (
RT), E-g = 3.94 eV (85 K) for CdAl2S4 and E-g = 2.95 eV (RT), E-g = 3.
07 eV (85 K) for CdAl2Se4 respectively.