Kinetics of the polymorphic transitions of cadmium chalcogenides under high pressure

Abstract

The rate of the high pressure transitions of CdS and CdSe from the wurtzite to the rock salt structure and of CdTe from the zinc blende to the rock salt structure was investigated under pressures ranging up to 40kb and temperatures ranging up to 300℃. The rate was followed by measuring the electrical resistance while the sample was under high pressure in a compact cubic anvil device. The rate of transitions showed both pressure and temperature dependence. The rate curves showed a rapid initial rise, followed by considerable tail-off. The effect of crystalline size on the transition kinetics was appreciable.