States of antimony and tin atoms in lead chalcogenides

It is shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy of the 119Sb(119mSn) isotope that impurity antimony atoms in PbS, PbSe, and PbTe lattices are distributed between cation and anion sublattices. In n-type samples, the greatest part of antimony is located in the anion sublattice; in hole ones, in the cation sublattice. The tin atoms formed as a result of radioactive decay of 119Sb (antisite state) are electrically inactive in the anion sub-lattice of PbS and PbSe, while, in the cation sublattice, they form donor U− centers. Electron exchange between the neutral and doubly ionized tin U− centers via the allowed band states is observed. The tin atoms formed after radioactive decay of 119Sb are electrically inactive in the anion and cation sublattices of PbTe.