Multipurpose technology for crystal growth of zinc and cadmium chalcogenides

Authors: N. N. Kolesnikov , M. P. Kulakov. Institute of Solid State Physics , 142432 Chernogolovka, Moscow district, Russia . Tel: +7-096-522-2074, Fax: +7-096-522-4691,

The zinc and cadmium chalcogenides, also known as II-VI compounds, are the wide-gap semiconductors, mainly applied in:

•  optical, electro-optical, acousto-optical devices, working in visible, infrared and THz ranges of spectrum;

•  detectors of ionizing radiations, working in the energy range from 1 keV to 6 MeV.

Laboratory of Physical-Chemical Basis of Crystallization (LPCBC), Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP), Russian Academy of Sciences developed the multipurpose technology for growing binary ( ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe ) and ternary (like Cd_1-xZn_xTe ) crystals of the zinc and cadmium chalcogenides.

The technology is based on the high-pressure vertical zone melting technique, invented in LPCBC and allows growing crystals of any binary and ternary II-VI compound. The technology also provides means for the doping of crystals by practically any element of the Periodic table (except gases). At the time being the technology is implemented on the growth equipment , developed and manufactured in the ISSP (8 devices). The crystals, grown by the technology, cover practically any existing application, known for the wide-gap II-VI compounds, including:

•  transmitting, outlet and focusing optics for the infrared range, like windows and lenses for the high-power CO₂ -lasers;

•  electro-optic elements, like longitudinal and transversal modulators, Q-switches, mode lockers;

•  polarizing optics, like half- and quarter-wave waveplates, Brewster plates;

•  beamsplitters and beam deflectors;

•  THz detectors and emitters;

•  counters, detectors and spectrometers of X-ray, gamma and alpha radiations;

•  non-linear applications, like up-conversion of laser radiation, frequencies mixing and differencial generation;

•  evaporation sources;

•  photovoltaic wafers;

•  substrates for epitaxial growth.

The ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe and Cd_1-xZn_xTe crystals , grown by the technology, were successfully tested in the applications listed above. The approbation included commercial sales of crystals and ready-made details from all mentioned compounds.

The ISSP offers the multipurpose technology for industrial scaling on the commercial basis.

The detailed information about the technology is placed on our WWW sites: