Some thermal and electronic transport properties of mineral marmatite (ZnS:Fe)

Abstract

The thermal diffusivity and some electronic transport properties of semiconducting ore mineral marmatite (ZnS:Fe) from the Trepca mine (Yugoslavia) were determined using a photoacoustic method with a transmission detection configuration. Thermal diffusivity, coefficient of carrier diffusion, the excess carrier lifetime, and the rear and front surface recombination velocities were calculated by fitting experimental spectra and theoretical photoacoustic amplitude and phase signals. The results obtained by optical transmission and reflectivity measurements were used to compare the determined values of the optical absorption coefficient using photoacoustic (PA) and optical methods. The mobility of the photogenerated free carrier holes of single crystal marmatite was calculated, for the first time, to be μp approx. 428 cm2/Vs.