Heat of formation of ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors

Heat of formation of I-III-VI2 and II-IV-V-2 groups of ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors has been calculated using plasma oscillations theory of solids. Two simple relations between plasmon energy and heat of formation have been proposed. One is based on spectroscopic model of Phillips and Van Vechten and other is based on the best-fit data of heat of formation. The calculated values of heat of formation from both the equations are compared with the experimental values and the values reported by earlier workers. A fairly good agreement has been obtained between them. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.