Local order and metal-non-metal transition in CdxTe1-x: a neutron diffraction study

Local order in the CdxTe1-x (for 0.5 less than or equal to x less than or e qual to 1) system has been investigated by means of thermal neutron scatter ing to study a semiconductor-to-metal transition as a function of concentra tion in the 50-100% Cd range. The coordination number has been evaluated fr om the pair correlation functions. It is consistent with a semiconducting p roperty for liquid Cd0.5Te0.5 having a coordination number close to 4 and w ith a metallic conductivity for liquid cadmium, having a compact environmen t and a coordination number of about 10. We discuss the critical concentrat ion for semiconductor-to-metal transition and the sharpness of this transit ion. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.