Crystal growth and phase interaction studies in the Cu7GeS5I-Cu7SiS5I superionic system

Solid solutions of Cu7SiS5I-Cu7GeS5I system were synthesized using solid-phase reactions involving a technique specifically developed for the synthesis of ternary compounds that exhibit incongruent melting behaviour. Chemical interaction in the Cu7GeS5I-Cu7SiS5I system was studied by X-ray phase analysis, microstructural analysis and density determination. Specific features of the energy gap and its compositional behaviour with Si→Ge cation substitution in Cu7SiS5I-Cu7GeS5I solid solution system are reported.