Crystals (Nov 2020)

Comparative Analysis of Hg<sub>2</sub>Br<sub>2</sub> and Hg<sub>2</sub>Br<sub>x</sub>Cl<sub>2-x</sub> Crystals Grown via PVT

  • Ojun Kwon,
  • Kyoungah Kim,
  • Shi-Gwan Woo,
  • Gun-Eik Jang,
  • Byungjin Cho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10121096
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 12
p. 1096

Abstract

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In this study, we comparatively analyzed the physical properties of Hg2Br2 and Hg2BrxCl2−x crystals synthesized via physical vapor transport (PVT). Prior to crystal growth, the elemental mapping images obtained through scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy clearly showed the presence of Cl atoms (2.62%) in Hg2BrxCl2−x powder; however, Cl atoms were not detected in Hg2Br2 powder. After crystal growth by PVT, each single crystal was characterized using various analysis techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. It was observed that the introduction of Cl elements into Hg2Br2 crystals strongly affected the crystallinity and Raman vibration modes. Hence, this in-depth material characterization study proposed a feasible method to screen impurities in mercury halide crystals.

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