Isoabsorption and spectrometric studies of optical absorption edge in Cu6AsS5I superionic crystal Original Research Article

Cu6AsS5I single crystals were grown using chemical vapour transport method. Two low-temperature phase transitions (PT) are observed from isoabsorption studies: a first-order PT at ТІ=153±1 K and a second-order PT in the temperature interval TІI=260–280 K. At low temperatures and high absorption levels an excitonic absorption band was revealed in the range of direct optical transitions. At Т>ТІ, the absorption edge has an exponential shape and a characteristic Urbach bundle is observed. The influence of the cationic P→As substitution on the parameters of the Urbach absorption edge, parameters of exciton–phonon interaction, and phase transitions temperatures are studied.