K2Hg2Te3: Straightforward and Large-Scale Mercury-Flux Synthesis of a Small-Band-Gap Photoconducting Material

Inorg Chem. 2019 Apr 1;58(7):4052-4054. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b02310. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Abstract

K2Hg2Te3 was synthesized via a mercury-flux synthesis pathway. Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction reveal the compound to be isostructural to its lighter congener K2Hg2Se3, yet exhibiting enhanced photoconductivity and electrical conductivity of (several) orders of magnitude and a decreased thermal conductivity and band gap. In this report, we elaborate on the synthesis and properties of the novel ternary compound.