On the ambient conditions crystal structure of AgSbTe2

B Baihong Sun (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 1 , Shantou 515063,) S Sergei Grazhdannikov (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,) M Muhamed Dawod (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,) L Lunhua He J Jiazheng Hao (Spallation Neutron Source Science Center) T Thomas Meier (Department of Life Sciences, Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Imperial College London) Y Yansun Yao (Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon 8 , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2,) Y Yaron Amouyal (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,) E Elissaios Stavrou (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 1 , Shantou 515063,)

Abstract

We present a combined x-ray and neutron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and 121Sb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental study of AgSbTe2, supported by first-principles calculations aiming to elucidate its crystal structure. While diffraction methods cannot unambiguously identify the structure, Raman and NMR data, together with electric field gradient calculations, strongly support a rhombohedral R3¯m phase. Moreover, the agreement between experimental and calculated Raman spectra further corroborates this result, resolving the 60-year old debate about the exact crystal structure of the AgSbTe2 compound.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 15
Published October 13, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

B

Baihong Sun

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 1 , Shantou 515063,

S

Sergei Grazhdannikov

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,

M

Muhamed Dawod

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,

L

Lunhua He

J

Jiazheng Hao

Spallation Neutron Source Science Center

T

Thomas Meier

Department of Life Sciences, Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Imperial College London

Y

Yansun Yao

Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon 8 , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2,

Y

Yaron Amouyal

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 2 , Haifa 3200003,

E

Elissaios Stavrou

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology 1 , Shantou 515063,