Tl10Hg3Cl16: Single crystal growth, electronic structure and piezoelectric properties

Abstract

Single crystal of the ternary halide Tl10Hg3Cl16 was grown using Bridgman-Stockbarger method. For the Tl10Hg3Cl16 crystal, we have measured X-ray photoelectron spectra for both pristine and Ar+ ion-bombarded surfaces and additionally investigated photoinduced piezoelectricity. Our data indicate that the Tl10Hg3Cl16 single crystal surface is very sensitive with respect to Ar+ ion-bombardment. In particular, Ar+ ion-bombardment with energy of 3.0keV over 5min at an ion current density of 14μA/cm2 causes significant changes of the elemental stoichiometry of the Tl10Hg3Cl16 surface resulting in an abrupt decrease of the mercury content in the top surface layers of the studied single crystal. As a result of the treatment, the mercury content becomes nil in the top surface layers. In addition, the present XPS measurements allow for concluding about very low hygroscopicity of the Tl10Hg3Cl16 single crystal surface. The property is extremely important for the crystal handling in optoelectronic or nano-electronic devices working at ambient conditions. The photoinduced piezoelectricity has been explored for Tl10Hg3Cl16 depending on nitrogen (λ=371nm) laser power density and temperature.