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Zn13Sb10: A Structural and Landau Theoretical Analysis of Its Phase Transitions
- Source :
- Chemistry of Materials. 18:822-831
- Publication Year :
- 2006
- Publisher :
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 2006.
-
Abstract
- Composition, crystal structures, polymorphic transformations, and stability of the thermoelectric material known in the literature as "Zn 4 Sb 3 " have been studied on a polycrystalline sample and Bi-flux-grown single crystals using X-ray diffraction techniques, resistance, and Seebeck coefficient measurements at various temperatures ranging from 4 to 773 K. Microprobe analysis yields the composition of the flux-grown crystals to be close to Zn 13 Sb 10 , with minor Bi doping. High-temperature X-ray and Seebeck coefficient studies show that the phase is unstable at high temperatures in a vacuum because of Zn losses. Both X-ray diffraction and resistivity measurements indicate the presence of two consecutive symmetry-breaking transitions below room temperature, in agreement with_our previous results on polycrystalline samples. Application of Landau theory suggests that the first R3c - C2/c symmetry breaking may be second-order in nature. The second, low-temperature symmetry breaking may proceed along two routes. One of these pathways, a first-order C2/c - Cl symmetry reduction, may lead to an incommensurate structure and is consistent with our experimental observations.
Details
- ISSN :
- 15205002 and 08974756
- Volume :
- 18
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Chemistry of Materials
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........8f22417d51bddd846c1aa6eebbe7a5b7