New SrPb3Br8 crystals: Growth, crystal structure and optical properties

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2016-10, Vol.682, p.832-838
• Main Authors: Isaenko, Ludmila I., Goloshumova, Alina A., Yelisseyev, Alexander P., Shubin, Yuri V., Khyzhun, O.Y., Naumov, Dmitrii Yu, Tarasova, Alexandra Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crystal growth; Crystal structure; Inorganic materials; Optical properties; Photoelectron spectroscopies; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.05.024

SrBr2PbBr2 system was investigated. A new compound of SrPb3Br8 was obtained and investigated by powder and single crystal XRD and spectroscopic methods. SrPb3Br8 crystals have orthorhombic symmetry with Pnma space group, a = 8.0056 (4) Å, b = 4.7359 (2) Å, c = 9.5208 (5) Å. These crystals are transparent from ≈360 nm, the band gap is 3.20 eV and calculated density is 6.242 g/cm3. Electronic structure of SrPb3Br8 was elucidated based on data of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). In particular, XPS core-level and valence-band spectra were measured for pristine and Ar+ ion-irradiated surfaces of SrPb3Br8 crystals. The XPS results reveal high hygroscopicity of the SrPb3Br8 single crystal surface. Comparison on a common energy scale of the XPS valence-band spectrum of SrPb3Br8 the XES Br Kβ2 band representing the energy distribution of the Br 4p states in this bromide indicate that the principle contributions of the Br 4p states occur in the upper portion of the valence band, with also their significant contributions in other valence-band portions. [Display omitted] •SrBr2PbBr2 system was investigated.•New compound of SrPb3Br8 was obtained and studied by XRD and spectroscopic methods.•Crystals have Pnma space group and are transparent from 360 nm, Eg is 3.20 eV.