Pressure-Induced Phase Transitions in AB2X4 Chalcogenide Compounds

This book on pressure-induced phase transitions in AB2X4 chalcogenide compounds deals with one important AmBnXp material. The interest in these materials is caused by their properties. The results are discussed for three main groups of structural families: cubic-spinel structures, defective tetragonal structures, and other structures like layered and wurtzite-type modifications. A systematic analysis of the behavior of cubic (spinel), tetragonal (defect chalcopyrites and stannites) and other crystal modifications of AB2X4 compounds under hydrostatic pressure is performed. The behavior of AIIAl2S4, AIIGa2S4, AIIAl2Se4 and AIIGa2Se4 compounds with defective tetragonal structures, compounds with layered and wurtzite structures under hydrostatic pressure and the pressure dependence of the band gap, lattice parameters, interatomic distances, vibrational modes and pressure-induced phase transitions is discussed. Many of these compounds, except oxide spinels, undergo a pressure-induced phase transition towards the rocksalt-type structure. The phase transition is preceded by disorder in the cation sublattice. The dependence of the transition pressure to the rocksalt-type structure as a fun