Electron beam induced current and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy correlative study of and CdTe crystals

Abstract

A combined scanning electron microscope-scanning tunnelling microscope (SEM-STM) system has been used to characterize Cd x Hg 1−x Te and CdTe crystals. The electron beam induced current (EBIC) mode of the SEM shows the existence of inhomogeneities in the electronic behaviour of the samples, mainly related to the presence of subgrain boundaries and precipitates. Current imaging tunnelling spectroscopy images and the related normalized differential conductance curves, obtained with the STM, reveal the electronic inhomogeneities at a finer scale. In particular, local variations of the band gap were shown by the conductance curves in regions with strong EBIC contrast. SEM-and STM-based techniques in a combined instrument appear to be complementary characterization techniques.

Effect of thickness on physical properties of electron beam vacuum evaporated CdZnTe thin films for tandem solar cells

“…[1][2][3][4]. The CdTe solar cells are suffered by problem of suitable contact (front in superstrate and back in substrate structure) due to large difference between metal work function and position of the CdTe valance band.…”

A Scanning Probe Microscopy Study of Cd1−x Zn x Te

“…In particular, STS is an effective probe of the surface electronic structure, giving information about the local density of states (LDOS) and surface states, and can also be used as a compositional analysis tool. 5,6 To the authorsÕ knowledge the only published work of the effects of ex vacuo preparation methods on surface morphology and electronic structure using STS was performed by Panin et al 7 on CdTe. They reported high electrical inhomogeneity with changes in the surface band gap, albeit in high-vacuum conditions.…”

Effect of Thermal Annealing on Zinc Diffused- CdTe Thin Film

“…Cadmium based binary and ternary II -IV compound semiconductors have attracted considerable interest because of their wide applications in optoelectronic devices [1]. CdTe properties make it a prime candidate for terrestrial photovoltaic applications [2,3].…”