New ternary semiconductors for infrared applications: Hg1−x MnxTe

Abstract

Hg1−xMnxTe alloys have been proposed as a suitable alternate material to mercury–cadmium–telluride for infrared applications. We report synchrotron radiation photoemission studies of the electronic structure of such alloys for x≤0.15. Valence band resonant photoemission was exploited to probe the valence states, while high resolution core photoemission yielded information on bonding stability and ionicity. The results are compared with those obtained for Hg1−xCdxTe and for HgTe. The Mn bonding in Hg1−xMnxTe appears mostly due to the coupling of metal-s states with Te p-states, with limited evidence of d–p hybridization. The ionicity of the Hg–Te bond is not substantially modified in the ternary alloy relative to HgTe, while for Hg1−xCdxTe we directly observe dramatic destabilization of the Hg–Te bond. Correspondingly, Hg1−xMnxTe should exhibit lattice surface and interface stability similar to those of the binary parent compound and largely exceeding those of Hg1−xCdxTe.

Determination of HgCdTe elasto-plastic properties using nanoindentation

“…3 The primary origin of its poor mechanical properties is the weak Hg-Te bond that is further weakened by the introduction of Cd into the HgCdTe crystal lattice. [4][5][6] As a result, handling of HgCdTe during a technological device fabrication process is particularly difficult.…”

Decrease of non-thermal electron scattering in semi-magnetic HgCdMnTe crystals

“…2a together with the B − 0 (T) dependencies derived from Eqs. (1) and (2). It is clearly seen that the dominant role of the non-thermal broadening, that holds the B − 0 peak position invariable up to T = 15 K. The T D temperature in non-magnetic Hg 1−x Cd x Te crystal is found to be 8.6 K. The total time τ nt related to the non-thermal broadening, τ nt =h/(k B T D ), we estimate to be τ nt = 9 × 10 −13 s in sample 1.…”

“…It is known that Hg 1−x Cd x Te(Se) binary compounds suffer from volume, surface, and interface instabilities due to a weakness of Hg-Te bonds. It has been demonstrated experimentally that the incorporation of Mn ions in the HgTe lattice does not influence noticeably the Hg-Te binding strength, whereas the introduction of Cd leads to substantial lattice instability [2]. In spite of this fact the optical properties of quaternary Hg 1−x−y Cd x Mn y Te(Se) compounds in comparison with the nonmagnetic Hg 1−x Cd x Te(Se) materials are found to be nearer perfection [3].…”

Manganese concentration effect on the lattice dynamics in multinary spin doped semiconductors

“…The influence of Mn 2+ ions on the electronic states and bond stabilization has been studied earlier for the Hg 1−x Mn x Te, Hg 1−x Cd x Te and HgTe crystals [5]. No direct influence of the magnetic ions on the Hg-Te binding strength is revealed but the indirect evidence of such an influence, nevertheless, exists.…”