Anisotropy of Mechanical Properties of CdTe-Based Crystals

Samples of CdTe-based crystals have been characterized. The elemental and phase compositions of the samples have been determined. The microhardness of the samples on two mutually perpendicular surfaces has been examined. It is shown that crystals with the main CdTe phase and different dopants exhibit no microhardness anisotropy. In crystals with the main CdZnTe phase, microhardness anisotropy has been found, which is related to different lengths of Cd–Te and Zn–Te bonds, which results in nonsymmetrical distortions of the crystal lattice. The observed difference in the microhardness of the CdTe crystals is explained by the difference in their structural parameters.