Optical and photoelectric spectroscopy of photorefractive Sn2P2S6 crystals

Low-temperature studies of the absorption, photoluminescence, photodiffusion and photoconductivity spectra of Sn 2 P 2 S 6 crystals were carried out in the wide spectral range 0.8–3.5 eV. The position of defect energy levels relative to the crystal energy bands has been determined. It was shown that the photoionization transitions from the valence band to the level with the energy E v +1.35 eV are caused by the presence of the hole metastable state. In the optical and photoelectric spectra several bands were revealed with energy greater than the band gap of the crystal ( E g = 2.5 eV). It was established that these bands are caused by the optical transitions between the valence band and upper conduction bands. It was shown that the electron–hole recombination, caused by the band-to-band transitions with the participation of the upper conduction subbands, is fast and corresponds to the nanosecond region. The combined scheme of the defect energy level and the band-to-band electronic phototransitions in Sn 2 P 2 S 6 crystals was constructed. A mechanism for the photorefractive effect in these crystals is proposed.