mercury sulfide

Solid solutions films of mercury sulfide-selenide (HgS1–xSex) were synthesized on glass substrates by the chemical bath deposition method. Theoretical calculations of the boundary conditions for the HgS and HgSe formation in the mercury-tartrate-thiourea-selenosulfate system were made. The boundary conditions of HgS1–xSex were defined by the overlap area between the constructed HgS and HgSe formation zones. The X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis showed that the obtained films are single-phase and consist of HgS1–xSex substitutional solid solutions in zincblende modification.

The HgS and HgSe films were obtained by chemical deposition technique from an aqueous solution of mercury(II) salt, complexing and chalcogenizing agents. For the obtaining of Hg(II) complexes during the HgS films synthesis thiourea was used, and during the HgSe films synthesis – potassium iodide, potassium rhodanide and sodium thiosulfate. By the X-ray phase analysis was confirmed the formation of desired compounds, as well as the formation of Hg3I2Se2 ternary compound in the case of potassium iodide use during the synthesis of HgSe films.