Pressure effect on vapor-deposited amorphous materials

Pressure-induced densification and crystallization of vapor-deposited amorphous Se, As, Ge and GeTe were investigated. In general, the density of the amorphous material increases monotonically with pressure and crystallization occurs after a certain pressure level is reached. For each amorphous material there appears to exist an upper density limit beyond which crystallization occurs. The pressure effect on individual substances is correlated to their short-range order and basic structural character.