Studies of the Semiconducting Properties of the Compound CsAu

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Abstract
Data are presented showing CsAu to be a semiconductor. The optical absorption curve is typical of a semiconductor with a threshold for direct optical excitation across the gap between 2.6 and 3.3 ev and exciton peaks at about 2.6, 3.0, and 3.3 ev. A relatively high optical absorption at smaller photon energies may indicate an indirect absorption process. Additional information has been obtained by measuring the spectral response curve of the photoemission from CsAu. The resistivity of the material is approximately 0.01 ohm-cm over the range from 410°K to 4.2°K, indicating either degeneracy or impurity banding. X-ray studies show that CsAu has a CsCl structure and a lattice constant of 4.263±0.001 A. Finally, some preliminary results obtained with other alkali metal-gold compounds are described.