Reduced leakage currents of CdZnTe radiation detectors with HgTe/HgCdTe superlattice contacts

Y. Chang; C. H. Grein; C. R. Becker; J. Huang; S. Ghosh; F. Aqariden; S. Sivananthan

doi:10.1117/12.949354

24 October 2012 Reduced leakage currents of CdZnTe radiation detectors with HgTe/HgCdTe superlattice contacts

Y. Chang, C. H. Grein, C. R. Becker, J. Huang, S. Ghosh, F. Aqariden, S. Sivananthan

Proceedings Volume 8507, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XIV; 850715 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.949354
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Room-temperature-operating CdZnTe radiation detectors have high energy resolution, linear energy response and are capable of operating in normal counting and spectroscopic modes, hence are highly desirable for medical diagnosis, nondestructive industrial evaluations, homeland security, counterterrorism inspections and nuclear proliferation detection to ensure national and international nuclear safety. HgTe/HgCdTe superlattices can be designed to selectively transport one carrier species while hindering transport of the other. Specifically, one designs a large carrier effective mass for undesired carriers in the electric field direction, which results in low carrier velocities, and yet a density of states for undesired carrier that is lower than that of a comparable bulk semiconductor, which results in low carrier concentrations, hence a low current density under an electric field. The opposite carrier species can be designed to have a large velocity and high density of states, hence producing a large current density. By employing HgTe/HgCdTe superlattices as contact layers intermediate between CdZnTe absorbers and metal contacts, leakage currents under high electric fields are reduced and improved x-ray and γ-ray detector performance is anticipated. Pixilated CdZnTe radiation detectors arrays were fabricated and characterized to evaluate the effectiveness of HgTe/HgCdTe superlattices in reducing leakage currents. Current-voltage characteristics show that HgTe/HgCdTe superlattice contact layers consistently result in significantly reduced leakage currents relative to detectors with only metal contacts.

Citation Download Citation

Y. Chang, C. H. Grein, C. R. Becker, J. Huang, S. Ghosh, F. Aqariden, and S. Sivananthan "Reduced leakage currents of CdZnTe radiation detectors with HgTe/HgCdTe superlattice contacts", Proc. SPIE 8507, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XIV, 850715 (24 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.949354

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KEYWORDS

Stereolithography

Sensors

Mercury cadmium telluride

Metals

Superlattices

Mercury

Diodes

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