Correlations of Bridgman-Grown Cd0.9Zn0.1Te Properties with Different Ampoule Rotation Schemes

A unique ampoule rotation system was developed at the Center for Materials Research at Washington State University for enhancing convection in the cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) melt by applying different ampoule rotation schemes (RS). Experiments were performed with different initial charge material concentrations and rotation parameters (acceleration, speed, rotation time, etc.). The applied speed and acceleration ranged from 30 rpm to 50 rpm and 30 rpm2 to 200 rpm2, respectively. Zinc (Zn) distribution profiles of radial and axial slices from the same regions in the grown ingot were determined by room-temperature photoluminescence mapping. The results demonstrate the effects of ampoule rotation on Zn segregation and growth interface evolution. The most stable interface propagation was obtained when 0.2 atomic percent (at.%) excess tellurium (Te) was used in the initial charge material along with a trapezoidal RS. Uniform radial Zn distribution was achieved using triangular RS, which is because of the interface flatness near the axis. Comparison of secondary phase (SP) generation for different RS and initial excess Te was performed. Closed-container CZT growth was performed using the trapezoidal RS, which resulted in high single-crystal yield with lower-diameter SP near the last-to-freeze region. High-resistivity (on the order of 1010 Ω-cm) crystals were obtained from all the RS. The mobility–lifetime product (μτ)e of electrons for planar detectors was found to be on the order of 3 × 10−3 cm2/V to 5 × 10−3 cm2/V for all the RS with 3.5 at.% excess Te growths.