High-pressure characterization of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$: Implications for strain-induced band tuning

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Won, Juyeon, Zhang, Rong, Peng, Cheng, Kumar, Ravhi, Gebre, Mebatsion S., Popov, Dmitry, Hemley, Russell J., Bradlyn, Barry, Devereaux, Thomas P., Shoemaker, Daniel P.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2024
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author Won, Juyeon
Zhang, Rong
Peng, Cheng
Kumar, Ravhi
Gebre, Mebatsion S.
Popov, Dmitry
Hemley, Russell J.
Bradlyn, Barry
Devereaux, Thomas P.
Shoemaker, Daniel P.
author_facet Won, Juyeon
Zhang, Rong
Peng, Cheng
Kumar, Ravhi
Gebre, Mebatsion S.
Popov, Dmitry
Hemley, Russell J.
Bradlyn, Barry
Devereaux, Thomas P.
Shoemaker, Daniel P.
contents Recent band structure calculations have suggested the potential for band tuning in a chiral semiconductor, Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$, to zero upon application of negative strain. In this study, we report on the synthesis of polycrystalline Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ and investigate its transport, optical properties, and pressure compatibility. Transport measurements reveal the semiconducting behavior of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ with high resistivity and an activation energy $E_a$ of 0.2 eV. The optical band gap determined by diffuse reflectance measurements is about three times wider than the experimental $E_a$. Despite the difference, both experimental gaps fall within the range of predicted band gaps by our first-principles DFT calculations employing the PBE and mBJ methods. Furthermore, our DFT simulations predict a progressive narrowing of the band gap under compressive strain, with a full closure expected at a strain of -4% relative to the lattice parameter. To evaluate the feasibility of gap tunability at such substantial strain, the high-pressure behavior of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ was investigated by $in$ $situ$ high-pressure X-ray diffraction up to 47 GPa. Mechanical compression beyond 4% resulted in a pressure-induced structural transformation, indicating the possibilities of substantial gap modulation under extreme compression conditions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_19517
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle High-pressure characterization of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$: Implications for strain-induced band tuning
Won, Juyeon
Zhang, Rong
Peng, Cheng
Kumar, Ravhi
Gebre, Mebatsion S.
Popov, Dmitry
Hemley, Russell J.
Bradlyn, Barry
Devereaux, Thomas P.
Shoemaker, Daniel P.
Materials Science
Recent band structure calculations have suggested the potential for band tuning in a chiral semiconductor, Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$, to zero upon application of negative strain. In this study, we report on the synthesis of polycrystalline Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ and investigate its transport, optical properties, and pressure compatibility. Transport measurements reveal the semiconducting behavior of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ with high resistivity and an activation energy $E_a$ of 0.2 eV. The optical band gap determined by diffuse reflectance measurements is about three times wider than the experimental $E_a$. Despite the difference, both experimental gaps fall within the range of predicted band gaps by our first-principles DFT calculations employing the PBE and mBJ methods. Furthermore, our DFT simulations predict a progressive narrowing of the band gap under compressive strain, with a full closure expected at a strain of -4% relative to the lattice parameter. To evaluate the feasibility of gap tunability at such substantial strain, the high-pressure behavior of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$ was investigated by $in$ $situ$ high-pressure X-ray diffraction up to 47 GPa. Mechanical compression beyond 4% resulted in a pressure-induced structural transformation, indicating the possibilities of substantial gap modulation under extreme compression conditions.
title High-pressure characterization of Ag$_3$AuTe$_2$: Implications for strain-induced band tuning
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.19517