INVESTIGATION OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN INTERCALATED GaSe CRYSTALS BY DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The conducted study revealed that the intercalation of copper ions into p-type GaSe layered mo-nocrystals has a significant impact on the material’s thermal properties. Comparison of DTA analyses showed that the characteristic interphase transition peak observed around 330 ℃ before intercalation al-most disappears after intercalation, indicating substantial structural changes in the crystal. Furthermore, while mass loss occurred gradually over a wide temperature range before intercalation, it was observed to be much sharper and more intense within the 540–560 ℃ range after intercalation. These results de-monstrate that intercalation decreases the thermal stability of the crystal, leads to the formation of new phases or weakly bonded regions within the structure, and increases sensitivity to thermal processes. Thus, the findings confirm that intercalation is a critical tool for tuning the functional properties of GaSe crystals and lay the groundwork for further research in this direction.