HgCdTe Surface Study Program

Abstract

This report presents the conclusions of a two-year study of the surface of HgCdTe conducted jointly by Santa Barbara Research Center and Stanford University. Photoemission spectroscopy (PES) of HgCdTe cleaved in UHV has indicated a surface which is very stable against Hg loss. The surface has shown a tendency to type-convert (p to n) due to defects in the surface region stressed by cleaving. Type conversion has been confirmed by independent electrolytic electro-reflectance (EER) measurements. Photoemission has also been used to probe the bulk band structure and indicates a fundamental difference in bonding of Cd and Hg in the lattice. A breakdown of the virtual crystal approximation is noted and an improved computation for the alloy is discussed. Oxygen chemistry has been studied using PES; results show the undamaged surface is inert to unexcited molecular oxygen. Oxidation proceeds with exposure to excited oxygen and is preceded by a loss of Hg from the surface. The oxide formed does not contain Hg. Differences in oxidation between HgTe and HgCdTe indicate Cd plays a role in the oxidation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA132071

Entities

People

  • Jerry A. Wilson
  • Joel Silberman
  • Per Morgen
  • W. E. Spicer

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Auger Electrons
  • Band Gaps
  • Band Structures
  • Chemistry
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Electron Energy
  • Electronics Industry
  • Electronics Laboratories
  • Energy Bands
  • Fermi Levels
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Semiconductors
  • Spin-Orbit Interaction
  • Surface Finishing
  • Surface Properties

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.