High Pressure and Temperature X-Ray Diffraction Studies on CdTe

• Published in: physica status solidi (b) Vol. 211; no. 1; pp. 461 - 467
• Main Authors: Martínez-García, D., Le Godec, Y., Mézouar, M., Syfosse, G., Itié, J. P., Besson, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.01.1999; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• ISSN: 0370-1972; 1521-3951
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3951(199901)211:1<461::AID-PSSB461>3.0.CO;2-#

The P–T phase diagram of CdTe has been determined by energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation at pressures up to 5 GPa and temperatures up to 1173 K. We have confirmed the existence of an intermediate cinnabar phase between the zinc‐blende and the rock‐salt phases, as reported previously in a room temperature study. This intermediate phase appears only in a very narrow pressure range and can be isolated only in the pressure decrease. We show that there is a quickly reduction of the pressure range in which the cinnabar phase is observed as the temperature is increased. As a matter of fact, at 773 K and above, the transition occurs directly between the zinc‐blende and rock‐salt phases, showing the existence of a triple point (2.6 ± 0.1 GPa, 735 ± 20 K) involving the three solid phases. Above that triple point the solid phase transition boundary compares very well with the results obtained by resistance measurements as well as with the solid–solid–liquid triple‐point coordinates determined by differential thermal analysis.