Evidence for bond strengthening in Cd1−xZnxTe (x=0.04)

Abstract
Hydrostatic compression data have been obtained for Cd1−xZnxTe(x=0.04±0.01) using energy dispersive x‐ray diffraction techniques with heterochromatic, synchrotron produced radiation. The B3 to B1 structural transition pressure is observed to occur at 3.25±0.15 GPa, in agreement with published work on CdTe. The volume discontinuity at the transition is observed to be 15±1%, which is also in agreement with that found for CdTe. However, compression data for each of the two phases indicate that Cd1−xZnxTe is about 2% stiffer than CdTe, suggesting that the CdTe bond is strengthened by the addition of Zn. This is in agreement with recent bond strength calculations and provides the first microscopic, experimental evidence of this strengthening effect.