Crystal structures of X-phase in the Sb-Te binary alloy system

It is well known that the Sb-Te binary system has a large number of incommensurately or commensurately modulated structures between Sb and Sb2Te3 compounds. These structures, which are long-period trigonal stacking structures, possess their own modulation period , according to their composition in the thermal equilibrium. However, the structure of sputtered Sb-Te films with various compositions between the two compounds at both ends formed in a non-thermal equilibrium showed smaller values, than those expected from their compositions without exception. A smaller value implies that its structure is closer to that of Sb with the shortest period in all Sb-Te modulated structures. With increase in temperature, all these transient structures with smaller , however, became stable, accompanying an increase of to acquire their original modulated structures.