Preparation of CdTe Crystals from Near Stoichiometric and Cd Rich Melt Compositions under Constant Cd Pressure

Abstract

Crystal growth on the basis of phase equilibrium relationships in the Cd-Te system is discussed. Two very different types of approaches were investigated. Growth by slowly cooling melts of near stoichiometric composition under constant cadmium pressure resulted in single crystals up to 5 cm in length. Growth from cadmium rich compositions at constant cadmium pressure by heating the melt produced crystals up to 1 cm in length. The relative merits of the two processes are discussed with regard to CdTe and other similar systems.