Solid solution formation in the systems Cu MIIIX2-Ag MIIIX2 where MIII=Al, Ga, In and X2=S, Se

Abstract

A study of solid solution formation in the systems CuAl X 2-AgAl X 2, CuGa X 2-AgGa X 2 and CuIn X 2-AgIn X 2, where X=S, Se, has shown that when M III=Al and Ga, Cu M III X 2 and Ag M III X 2 were not completely miscible. The CuIn X 2-AgIn X 2 system, however, showed complete solid solubility. The limits of solid solubility are explained in terms of the c/a ratio, and the internal atomic coordinate u. The lattice constant a is a linear function of composition, while c bows upwards. This behavior is also discussed in terms of trends in 2- c/a.