Spectral Variation of SKβ Emission with Sulfur Content in As-S Glasses

The bonding and chemical state of sulfur in binary As-S glasses were investigated by determining the S Kβ spectra with a vacuum 2-crystal X-ray spectrometer equipped with Ge(ll1) crystal analyzers. For glasses with sulfur contents <60 at.%, the spectra were similar to those of realgar (crystalline As₄S₄) and orpiment (crystalline As₂S₃); the profile of the SKβ spectrum did not change when half the sulfur was replaced by selenium. For sulfur contents > 60 at.%, the spectra became progressively similar to that of elemental sulfur with increasing sulfur content. It was found that S-S bonding occurs in the high-sulfur glasses.