Effect of thermal processing on the microstructure and composition of CuaSbaSe compounds

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 2188 - 2198
• Main Authors: Majsztrik, P W, Kirkham, M, Garcia-Negron, V, Lara-Curzio, Edgar, Skoug, E J, Morelli, D T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2013
• Subjects: Composition effects; Cooling; Hardness; Mathematical models; Melts; Microstructure; Stoichiometry; Transformations
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-012-6994-x

We report on the effects of thermal processing on the microstructure and composition of a system with overall stoichiometry of 3Cu:1Sb:3Se with the aim of producing single-phase Cu3SbSe3. It was found that slow cooling from the melt produced a multiphase material consisting of Cu2Se and CuSbSe2, but devoid of Cu3SbSe3. Cooling rapidly from the melt resulted in three-phase microstructures consisting of Cu2Se, CuSbSe2, and Cu3SbSe3. Subsequent annealing of the three-phase material between 325 and 400 degree C shifted the composition toward nearly pure Cu3SbSe3athe target compound of this work. The kinetics of the transformation into Cu3SbSe3 was successfully described using a modified Avrami model which suggests that diffusion is the rate-controlling step. Values of Young's modulus and hardness, obtained by nanoindentation, are reported for Cu2Se, CuSbSe2, and Cu3SbSe3.