The excitonic absorption spectrum of thin Ag2ZnI4 films

The electron absorption spectrum of thin films of the Ag₂ZnI₄ complex compound is studied at photon energies of 3–6 eV. It is established that the interband absorption edge corresponds to an allowed direct transitions across the energy gap E _g=3.7 eV. A strong exciton band is adjacent to the absorption edge at E _ex=3.625 eV (80 K); in the 80–390 K range, the temperature behavior of the half-width Γ of this band is determined by the exciton-phonon interaction typical of quasi-one-dimensional excitons. At T≤390 K, a discontinuity in the slope of the E _ex(T) and Γ(T) dependences is observed. This discontinuity is associated with the generation of Frenkel defects and is accompanied by the transfer of Ag ions to the interstitial sites and vacancies of the crystal lattice of the compound.