Tricadmium digermanium tetraarsenide: A new crystalline phase made with a double-containment ampoule method

A new crystalline phase in the Cd-Ge-As family of materials has been recently discovered. This phase was made with a unique double-containment ampoule method that provided a specific cooling rate along with a thermal compression mechanism. The composition of this crystalline phase was determined to be Cd ₃Ge ₂As ₄with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The detailed methods used to fabricate these crystals are presented. The crystal structure is still under investigation, although preliminary results are given.