Abstract
The local structure of SnTe has been studied using atomic pair distribution function analysis of x-ray and neutron data. Evidence is found for a locally distorted high-temperature state, which emerges on warming from an undistorted rocksalt structure. The structural distortion appears rapidly over a relatively narrow temperature range from 300 to 400 K. A similar effect has been reported in PbTe and PbS and dubbed emphanisis; here we report on emphanisis in a compound that does not contain Pb. The analysis suggests that this effect is unrelated to the low-temperature ferroelectric state in SnTe.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 014102 |
| Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 3 2014 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
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Knox, K. R., Bozin, E. S., Malliakas, C. D., Kanatzidis, M. G., & Billinge, S. J. L. (2014). Local off-centering symmetry breaking in the high-temperature regime of SnTe. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 89(1), [014102]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.014102