Investigation of the R2Te3–M2Te–PbTe (R = Tb, Dy; M = Cu, Ag) systems at 770 K

The interactions between the components in the R2Te3–M2Te–PbTe (R = Tb, Dy; M = Cu, Ag) systems at 770 K were determined using X-ray powder diffraction. The formation of the compounds R7Cu3Te12 (Ho7Cu3Te12 structure type, space group R3¯m), RCu5Te4 (unknown structure), RAgTe2 (ErAgTe2 structure type, space group P4¯21m) and the solid solutions R(2+x)/3Cu2−xTe2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) (Er2/3Cu2S2 structure type, space group P3¯) in the R2Te3–M2Te sections was observed. No compounds exist in the R2Te3–PbTe and M2Te–PbTe sections. The formation of quaternary compounds was not observed in the investigated systems.