Mercuric iodide (HgI2) platelets for x-ray spectroscopy produced by polymer controlled growth

Vapor Growth of Mercuric Iodide Tetragonal Prismatic Crystals

“…The second most utilized vapor growth method for HgI 2 , the growth aided by organics in a horizontal furnace, yields crystals of ideal sizes and shapes to be fabricated directly into devices with no or little post-growth processing [28,29,32,[41][42][43][44][45][46]. [28,47].…”

“…[28,47]. A source temperature of 230°C was employed, while the condensation region was at room temperature, where platelets grew in the region below the phase transformation point.…”

“…This method produces platelet or tetragonal prismatic HgI 2 crystals in a horizontal furnace in the presence of organic additives. Previous work indicated that HgI 2 grows into platelet shaped crystals when unpurified HgI 2 was mixed with polyetheylene and subjected to temperatures higher than the α-to-β -HgI 2 phase transformation temperature at 130°C [28]. HgI 2 grown with purified HgI 2 mixed with lowM w polyethylene and subjected to lower temperatures, however, fortuitously yield tetragonal prismatic crystals with adequate dimensions needed to fabricate Frisch collar devices.…”

Horizontal Ampoule Growth and Characterization of Mercuric Iodide at Controlled Gas Pressures for X-Ray and Gamma Ray Spectrometers

“…The crystal growth method used for most of the project is based on the horizontal technique first introduced by Faile [3,4]. As mentioned earlier, Renaissance Instruments donated forty horizontal furnaces to the project [6].…”

“…A method by S. Faile in 1981 has been widely used to produce HgI 2 platelets in horizontal furnaces [3,4]. The Faile method promises to produce good quality platelets in a short growth period (within days) with the use of organic materials to enhance the properties of the platelets.…”