Mercury and antimony chalcohalide semiconductors as new candidates for radiation detection applications at room temperature

Christos D. Malliakas*, Arief C. Wibowo, Zhifu Liu, John A. Peters, Maria Sebastian, Hosub Jin, Duck Young Chung, Arthur J. Freeman, Bruce W. Wessels, Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate that mercury and antimony compounds with chalcogens (Q = S, Se, Te) and halogens (X = I, Cl, Br) can be a promising family for radiation detection materials. Chalcogen p-orbitals are usually located near the Fermi level and they are responsible for relative high mobilities but at the same time band gap decreases (from S to Te) due to their extended interactions. Halogens on the other hand have their bands well below the Fermi level and salts between transition metals and halogen are usually insulators. Incorporation of halogen atoms in a mercury or antimony chalcogenide framework can give rise to intermediate properties between the two end members (HgQ and HgX2), i.e. structures composed of heavy elements (Z > 40), wide band gap (1.6 - 2.5 eV), and high carrier mobilities. As a proof of concept, we will present two new chalcohalide families, Hg3Q2X2 and SbQX. Crystal growth of the Hg3Te2Br2 phase (7.8 g/cm3 and 2.5 eV) by a vapor transport method gave mm-sized single crystals with electrical resistivity values more in the GΩ.cm range. Preliminary data for mobility-lifetime products for both electron and hole carriers were around 10-5 cm2/V. SbSeI (5.8 g/cm3 and 1.7 eV) sample grown by relatively fast Bridgman technique showed an MΩ.cm range (2.8 × 106 Ω.cm) resistivity with a similar order of magnitude (10-4 cm2/V) of mobility-lifetime products for both electron and hole carriers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XIV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
EventHard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XIV - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 13 2012Aug 15 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8507
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherHard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XIV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/13/128/15/12

Keywords

  • Antimony chalcohalide
  • Mercury chalcohalide
  • Mobility-lifetime product
  • Semiconductor
  • X-ray detector
  • γ-ray Detector

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mercury and antimony chalcohalide semiconductors as new candidates for radiation detection applications at room temperature'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this