Synthesis and X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Cu2CdGexSn1 – xSe4 Solid Solutions

Abstract

The high-temperature orthorhombic phase of Cu₂CdGeSe₄ quaternary compound, tetragonal phase of Cu₂CdSnSe₄ compound, and Cu₂CdGe_xSn_1 – xSe₄ solid solutions have been grown from elementary components Cu, Cd, Ge, Sn, and Se by one-temperature synthesis. The unit-cell parameters of the grown compounds and solid solutions have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis at room temperature. It is shown that a continuous series of solid solutions, based on Cu₂CdSnSe₄ compound, is formed in the Cu₂CdGe_xSn_1 – xSe₄ system in the range of 0 ≤ х ≤ 0.8, and the Cu₂CdGe_xSn_1 – xSe₄ system at x ≥ 0.9 is an orthorhombic crystalline phase.