Cadmium telluride and cadmium zinc telluride

CdTe and CdZnTe crystals are employed for several applications such as IR imaging, X- and gamma ray detection, optical devices, and photovoltaics. These applications require that crystals show peculiar properties. On the other hand, phase diagrams suggest possible growth technologies. In this chapter, the most important synthesis and growth technologies for CdTe and CdZnTe crystals are described together with the post-growth treatments that were adopted for improving material properties. Finally, state of the art of CdTe and CdZnTe crystals are reviewed, problems still open are evidenced and, thus, few indications about possible future developments are summarized.