Simulation of Single Crystalline CdZnTe Solidification Process

ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ; M. R. ROSENBERGER; ALICIA B. TRIGUBÓ; RAÚL D'ELÍA; E. HEREDIA

Journal of Materials Physics and Chemistry

Science and Education Publishing

Año: 2014 vol. 2 p. 9 - 14

2333-4436

Single crystals of Cd(1-y)Zn(y)Te (0 ≤ y ≤ 0,1) (CZT/CdZnTe) are used in manufacture of gamma and X-ray detectors and as substrates for epitaxial growth of HgCdTe. Computer simulation for the solidification of CZT was performed using finite elements. The simulation results indicate that a lower translation speed of the quartz ampoule within the Bridgman furnace determines a lower concavity of the liquid interface which assures a good crystalline quality. When the rate is 3.32 mm/h the concavity is 58% greater than for a speed of 0.50 mm/h. It was experimentally found that when growing at low speed, 1.66 mm/h, the process is more stable and improves the crystalline quality due that only two grains were generated in CZT ingots. Meanwhile a faster growth speed- 3.32 mm/h- generates a large amount of grains in the CZT ingot.