Deposition and characterization of p-type cadmium telluride films

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.336106· OSTI ID:5424809

Chu, T L; Chu, S S; Firszt, F; Naseem, H A; Stawski, R

The deposition of CdTe films on foreign substrates by the direct combination of the elements in a gasflow system has the flexibility that the conductivity type and electrical resistivity of the film can be controlled by adjusting the composition of the reaction mixture. The deposition and properties of p-type CdTe films are emphasized in this paper because of its importance in thin-film solar cells. Graphite, W/graphite, mullite, and Corning 7059 glass were used as substrates for the deposition process. While CdTe films deposited on W/graphite and mullite substrates could be n or p type, depending on the composition of the reaction mixture, all films deposited on graphite substrates were p type, irrespective of the reactant composition, substrate temperature, or the purification of graphite, suggesting that carbon is electrically active in CdTe. The resistivity of p-type CdTe films on W/graphite and mullite substrates has been controlled for the first time by (1) using a Cd-deficient reaction mixture, and (2) adding dopants (AsH/sub 3/ or PH/sub 3/) to the reaction mixture. The resistivity versus composition relation was studied in detail. The optical properties of nearly stoichiometric, Cd-deficient and Te-deficient CdTe films were also investigated.

• Research Organization: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275
• OSTI ID: 5424809
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 58:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
GLASS
VAPOR DEPOSITED COATINGS
GRAPHITE
MULLITE
TUNGSTEN
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COATING
COATINGS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
OXIDE MINERALS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
TELLURIDES
TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360603* - Materials- Properties