Modulated photothermal radiometry in the investigations of effective carrier lifetimes in a series of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te crystals

The paper presents the new results of photothermal studies on recombination parameters of a series of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te mixed crystals as a function of their composition parameter x in the range from x=0 (CdTe) to x=1 (ZnTe). The nondestructive photothermal radiometry (PTR) method has been used for the effective determination of the effective carrier lifetimes across various concentrations of Zn in a series of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te crystals. They changed from 0.1 μs for CdTe crystal to 2 μs for ZnTe crystal. The theoretical model which includes infrared optical absorption coefficient has been taken for interpretation of experimental characteristics of the PTR signal. The behavior of the average lifetime of carriers as a function of a composition of crystals was investigated. It is of a great importance for the further application development based on the Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te crystals. • The new results of studies on recombination parameters of a series of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te mixed crystals as a function of their composition parameter x in the range from x=0 (CdTe) to x=1 (ZnTe) have been obtained. • The nondestructive photothermal radiometry (PTR) method has been used for the effective determination of the effective carrier lifetimes. • The behavior of the average lifetime of carriers as a function of a composition of crystals was investigated.