Ammonothermal Synthesis of Earth-Abundant Nitride Semiconductors ZnSiN2 and ZnGeN2 and Dissolution Monitoring by In Situ X-ray Imaging

Häusler J, Schimmel S, Wellmann P, Schnick W (2017)


Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Publisher: Wiley-VCH Verlag

Book Volume: 23

Pages Range: 12275-12282

Journal Issue: 50

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201701081

Abstract

In this contribution, first synthesis of semiconducting ZnSiN2 and ZnGeN2 from solution is reported with supercritical ammonia as solvent and KNH2 as ammonobasic mineralizer.
The reactions were conducted in custom-built highpressure autoclaves made of nickel-based superalloy. The nitrides were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and their crystal structures were refined by the Rietveld method. ZnSiN2 (a=5.24637(4), b=6.28025(5), c=5.02228(4) a, Z=4, Rwp=0.0556) and isotypic ZnGeN2 (a=5.46677(10), b=6.44640(12), c=5.19080(10) a, Z=4, Rwp=0.0494) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pna21 (no. 33). The morphology and elemental composition of the nitrides were examined by electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Well-defined single crystals with a diameter up to 7 mm were grown by ammonothermal synthesis at temperatures between 870 and 1070 K and pressures up to 230 MPa. Optical properties have been analyzed with diffuse reflectance measurements. The band gaps of ZnSiN2 and ZnGeN2 were determined to be 3.7 and 3.2 eV at room temperature, respectively. In situ X-ray measurements were performed to exemplarily investigate the crystallization mechanism of ZnGeN2. Dissolution in ammonobasic supercritical ammonia between 570 and 670K was observed which is
quite promising for the crystal growth of ternary nitrides under ammonothermal conditions.

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How to cite

APA:

Häusler, J., Schimmel, S., Wellmann, P., & Schnick, W. (2017). Ammonothermal Synthesis of Earth-Abundant Nitride Semiconductors ZnSiN2 and ZnGeN2 and Dissolution Monitoring by In Situ X-ray Imaging. Chemistry - A European Journal, 23(50), 12275-12282. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201701081

MLA:

Häusler, Jonas, et al. "Ammonothermal Synthesis of Earth-Abundant Nitride Semiconductors ZnSiN2 and ZnGeN2 and Dissolution Monitoring by In Situ X-ray Imaging." Chemistry - A European Journal 23.50 (2017): 12275-12282.

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