Characterization of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te single crystals for radiation detectors

Large volume single crystals of Cd 0.9 Zn 0.1 Te (CZT) have been grown by vertical Bridgman technique using in-house zone refined precursor materials (Cd, Zn, and Te). The grown semi-insulating CZT crystals have shown high promise for high-resolution room-temperature radiation detectors due to their high dark resistivity (~4×10 10 Ω-cm), good charge transport properties [(μτ) e = (6-8) × 10 -3 cm 2 /V], and relatively low cost. The grown CZT single crystals (~2.8 cm diameter and >10 cm long) have demonstrated a very low radial Zn concentration deviation, low dislocation densities and Te precipitate/inclusions, and high infrared transmission. Details of the CZT single crystal growth, their physical and chemical analysis, surface processing, nuclear radiation detector fabrication, and testing of these devices are presented.This work was partially supported through the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy`s Nuclear Energy University Programs Grant No. DE-AC07-05ID14517 and the Advanced Support Program for Innovative Research Excellence-I (ASPIRE-I) of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, Grant No. 15530-E404h