Comment on “Thermodynamic description of the Hg–Te system” [Journal of Alloys and Compounds 494 (1–2) (2010) 102–108

Abstract

Recently Gierlotka [Journal of Alloys and Compounds 494 (1–2) (2010) 102–108] reported on thermodynamic assessments of the Hg–Te binary system using (1) two-sublattice ionic model, (2) associate model, and (3) random mixing model for the liquid phase. And a conclusion was made such that the two-sublattice ionic model and the associate model are superior to the random mixing model in describing thermodynamic properties and phase diagram of the Hg–Te system, and the two-sublattice ionic model seems to be more suitable for describing Hg–Te binary system due to ionic behavior of the Hg–Te liquid. Purpose of the present letter is to point out that (1) the two-sublattice ionic model and the associate model can be made mathematically the same in a binary system as in the Hg–Te system, therefore two different assessments using either the two-sublattice ionic model or the associate model by Gierlotka are essentially very similar as long as the parameters used in both models are similar, and (2) the two models can also be made mathematically equivalent even in higher order system under certain conditions.