Properties of AgGaxIn1-xSe2 solid solutions

AgInSe2, AGaSe(2), and AgGaxIn1-xSe2 crystals consisting of large blocks were grown by the horizontal Bridgman process, and their composition and lattice parameters were determined by electron probe x-ray microanalysis and x-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters of the solid solutions were shown to vary linearly with x. Differential thermal analysis was used to determine the phase-transition temperatures of the crystals and to map out the AgInSe2-AgGaSe2 phase diagram, which was also evaluated thermodynamically. The density of the AgGaxIn1-xSe2 solid solutions was found to vary linearly with composition, while their microhardness shows a maximum.