Isomorphism and solid solutions among Ag- and Au-selenides

• Au-Ag selenides were synthesized.
• Limited Ag-Au isomorphism in the selenides is affected by structural features.
• Some new phases were introduced to the phase diagram Ag-Au-Se.

Au-Ag selenides were synthesized by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elementary substances of initial compositions Ag2−xAuxSe with a step of х=0.25 (0≤х≤2) to 1050 °С and annealing at 500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction methods have been applied to study synthesized samples. Results of studies of synthesized products revealed the existence of three solid solutions with limited isomorphism Ag↔Au: naumannite Ag2Se – Ag1.94Au0.06Se, fischesserite Ag3AuSe2 - Ag3.2Au0.8Se2 and gold selenide AuSe - Au0.94Ag0.06Se. Solid solutions and AgAuSe phases were added to the phase diagram of Ag-Au-Se system. Crystal-chemical interpretation of Ag-Au isomorphism in selenides was made on the basis of structural features of fischesserite, naumannite, and AuSe.

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