An In-Depth Analysis of CdTe Thin-Film Deposition on Ultra-Thin Glass Substrates via Close-Spaced Sublimation (CSS)
Source abstract
Abstract
This study evaluated the impact of the deposition pressure on the formation of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films on ultra-thin (100 µm) Schott glass substrate at high temperature (T > 450 °C) by Close-Spaced Sublimation (CSS) technique. CdTe thin films were grown under the pressure range of 1 Torr to 200 Torr to explore the impact of deposition pressure on CdTe thin-film properties. The microstructural, compositional and optoelectrical characteristics were examined. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the cubic phase crystallite CdTe films with (111) preferential orientation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the CdTe morphology and grain size could be regulated via the deposition pressure, whereby maximum grain growth was detected at low pressure (1–5 Torr). The thickness of CdTe films was reduced from 6 µm to 1.5 µm with the rise in deposition pressure. Moreover, the optical direct energy gap was derived in the range of 1.65–1.69 eV for the pressure value of 200 Torr to 1 Torr. Carrier density and resistivity were found to be in the order of 1013 cm−3 and 104 Ω cm, respectively. The experimental results suggest that the pressure range of 1–5 Torr may be ideal for CSS-grown CdTe films on flexible ultra-thin glass (UTG) substrates.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties · Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
College of Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Center of Excellence for Research in Engineering Materials (CEREM), Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
K.A.CARE Energy Research and Innovation Center, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Funding
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
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