Large grain CdSe0.9Te0.1 layers grown from the vapor in presence of alpha b-Cr2O3

Polycrystalline layers of the alloy CdSe0.9Te0.1 were prepared from compact ed plates of CdSe-CdTe-Cr2O3 powders. By sintering these plates in a temper ature gradient, sublimation of CdSe and CdTe occurs which finally leads to crystallization of a CdSeTe alloy layer on the remaining Cr2O3 particles. E xtensive characterization of the layers has been performed using X-ray diff raction, SEM observations, photoconductivity and photoluminescence measurem ents. A grain size up to 40 mum has been obtained with some preferential mi cro-crystalline orientation along the c-axis of the wurtzite structure. Rel ative photoconductivity approaching 10(6) under 500 Lx illumination has bee n measured, which demonstrates the high photosensitivity of this material g rown in the presence of alpha chromium tri-oxide. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.