A determination of the structure of liquid Ga2Te3 using combined X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution

The partial structure factors of liquid Ga2Te3 have been determined using a combination of neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution (NDIS) and a nomalous X-ray diffraction around the Te K edge. The inclusion of X-ray dif fraction data significantly improves the statistical accuracy of the partia l structure factors obtained compared with those obtained by the NDIS metho d alone. The results show that the liquid is hetero-coordinated in a way si milar to that of typical two-component glasses or ionic liquids. There is n o evidence, within the accuracy of this experiment, for substantial numbers of homopolar bonds as suggested by recent ab initio molecular dynamics sim ulations. The bond distances and coordination numbers show strong similarit ies to the tetrahedrally bonded defective zinc blende structure of the crys talline solid before melting.