Some optical properties of (ZnS)−(GaP) alloys and their interpretation

Optical measurements on the single crystals of the pseudobinary (ZnS)?(GaP) alloy were carried out. The band gap energy decreased more rapidly with increase in GaP concentration than that reported previously. The analysis of the absorption spectra for the crystals of up to 70 mole % GaP indicated a direct transition characteristic, and that the band gap becomes nearly equal to that of pure GaP at about 30 mole % GaP. The photoluminescence spectra observed at liquid nitrogen temperature could first be resolved into three kinds of emission band with Gaussian distribution. The peak energy of these bands were found to be independent of the band gap variation. Thus the observed peak energy shift with alloy composition was attributed to the variation of the emission intensity of each band. The band gap shrinkage and the origin of the photoluminescence spectra on the basis of a molecular orbital method were discussed.