Raman scattering has contributed to the understanding of semiconductor
materials at a fundamental level and has also proved powerful in the
characterization of semiconductors, their alloys and heterostructures.
This brief review will indicate some of the ways in which Raman spect
roscopy has been applied in the study of II-VI semiconductors, with sp
ecial attention to recent examples relevant to the application of ZnSe
-based materials in optoelectronics. Tn particular, studies of electro
n spin-flip Raman scattering in p-type ZnSe will be discussed which sh
ow the presence of two distinct donor centres in highly doped p-type Z
nSe:N; the two donors can be distinguished in spin-flip Raman scatteri
ng experiments by their different g-values. The resonance behaviour of
the two Raman signals confirms that they are associated with two diff
erent donor centres and reveals a correlation between the localisation
energy of an exciton at the neutral donor centre and the binding ener
gy of the electron to the donor ion. Directions for future experiments
will be indicated.