Stabilization of lattice period in quinary solid solutions of the A3B5 compounds

The stabilizing effect of elastic strains on the lattice period of a quinary solid solution is considered. The expression for the stabilization factor for quinary solid solutions of the A x B 1− x C y D z E 1− y − z type is derived. It is shown that the stabilizing influence of the substrate sharply increases in the vicinity of the region of the chemical spinodal. The stabilization factors are calculated for the Ga x In 1− x P y As z Sb 1− y − z and A1 x Ga y In 1− x − y P z As 1− z quinary solid solutions isoperiodic to InAs, GaSb, and GaAs. It is shown that in the region of thermodynamic instability the stabilization factor has negative values. The changes in the composition of the above elastically strained quinary solid solutions are analyzed with respect to the equilibrium composition. It is also shown that stabilization of the lattice period does not signify the stabilization of its composition.