Effects of CdCl2 treatment on properties of CdTe thin films grown by evaporation at low substrate temperatures


BACAKSIZ E., ALTUNBAŞ M., Yflniaz S., Tornakin M., Parlak M.

CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, vol.42, no.9, pp.890-894, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 42 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/crat.200710957
  • Journal Name: CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.890-894
  • Keywords: CdTe, thin films, STRUCTURAL-CHARACTERIZATION, CONDUCTIVITY
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The structural, morphological and optical properties of vacuum-evaporated CdTe thin films were investigated as a function of substrate temperature and post-deposition annealing without and with CdCl2/treatment at 400 degrees C for 30 min. Diffraction patterns are almost the same exhibiting higher preferential orientation corresponding to (111) plane of the cubic phase. The intensity of the (111) peak increased with the CdCl2/annealing treatment. The microstructure observed for all films following the CdCl2/annealing treatment are granular, regardless of the as-deposited microstructure. The grain sizes are increased after the CdCl2/annealing treatment but now contain voids around the grain boundaries. The optical band gaps, E-g, were found to be 1.50, 1.50 and 1.48 eV for films deposited at 200 K and annealed without and with CdCl2/treatment at 400 degrees C for 30 min respectively. A progressive sharpening of the absorption edge upon heat treatment particularly for the CdCl2/treated was observed.