Pressure-Induced Irreversible Metallization Accompanying Phase Transition of Chalcopyrite Cu(In0.7Ga0.3)Se2

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Chalcopyrite copper–indium–gallium diselenides (CIGS) have emerged as promising materials with remarkable electronic properties and potential applicability to high-efficiency solar cells. The crystal and electronic structures of CIGS can be continuously tuned from their initial states under pressure. Although pressure-induced band gap closure in CIGS has been predicted in extensive theoretical studies, it has not been supported by experimental evidence. Here, we comprehensively investigate the pressure-dependent optical, electronic, and structural properties of Cu(In 0.7 Ga 0.3 )Se 2 up to 42.6 GPa. Our experimental results reveal an irreversible electronic transition from the semiconducting to the metallic state at 14.3 GPa. Under compression, the Cu(In 0.7 Ga 0.3 )Se 2 structure evolves from a tetragonal I 4̅2 d phase to an orthorhombic Pna 2 1 phase, which has not been previously reported in chalcopyrite. More intriguingly, the Pna 2 1 phase is irreversible and possesses smaller Cu–Se and In/Ga–Se bond lengths and a smaller Cu–Se–Cu bond angle than the I 4̅2 d phase. Density functional theory calculations indicate a lower enthalpy of the Pna 2 1 phase than that of the I 4̅2 d phase at pressures above 10.6 GPa. Meanwhile, density of states calculations illustrate that metallization arises from the overlap of the Se p and Cu d orbitals as the bond length reduces. This pressure-induced behavior could facilitate the development of novel devices with various phenomena involving strong coupling of the mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of chalcopyrite.

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