Some sources of defects in α-HgI2, the room temperature γ-ray detector

In the course of a systematic optimization of the materials properties of -HgI₂ crystals for room temperature - and X-ray detectors, we have investigated possible sources of defects and discuss briefly the possibility to supress them. Due to the particular structure of -HgI₂, large amount of impurities, particularly hydrocarbons, can be absorbed invan der Waals layers and lattice channels. Purification by sublimation does not work due to the affinity of hydrocarbons to iodine and their easy re-absorption in the sublimate. Lattice filtering of the large concentration of hydrocarbons contained even in suprapure iodine has been performed using the close spaced lattice of CuI. Oxidation of hydrocarbons by reaction of oxygen with HgI₂ is another possibility for their removal.Mass spectrometric investigations of a molecular beam of -HgI₂ has solved the long disputed problem of the existence of nonstoichiometry: both excess of Hg or excess of I are possible. The removal of nonstoichiometry can be achieved by suitable thermal treatment only in the case of pure crystals. In the presence of hydrocarbons, the non-stoichiometric defects are fixed showing the predominant importance of hydrocarbons for -HgI₂.Investigation of the evaporation of -HgI₂ with mass spectrometry at low temperatures (150>T>40 °C) shows a strong change of the enthalpy of evalporation at 67 °C whereas DSC does not show any peak at this temperature. It seems probable that this is due to a surface reconstruction which influences the evaporation but not the thermal bulk lattice effects which are detected by DSC.Dedicated to Prof. Dr.K. L. Komarek at the occasion his 60th birthday.