IntroductionCadmium magnesium telluride (CdMgTe), as a group II-VI CdTe-based compound semiconductor, can be used in room-temperature radiation detection. However, CdMgTe crystals grown by melt methods often exhibit major defects like vacancies, dislocations, twins, and inclusions, severely impacting the crystal quality and detector performance. Some studies show that selenium (Se) can significantly reduce harmful defects like sub-boundary networks and Te inclusions in CdTe-based crystals, enhancing the crystal quality through its favorable segregation coefficient and intense solid-solution hardening effect. Therefore, in this paper, Se was introduced into CdMgTe crystals via vapor phase diffusion as an advanced annealing strategy to enhance the both crystal quality and detector performance. In addition, the effect of annealing time on the crystal defects, microhardness, optical and electrical properties, and detector performance was also investigated.MethodsThe annealing source was a high-purity Se (7N), and the slices with the dimensions of 5 mm×5 mm×2 mm were selected from an In-doped CdMgTe ingot grown by a modified vertical Bridgman method under Cd excess condition. Prior to annealing, the slices were mechanically polished with an MgO suspension and then treated with a 2% Br₂-MeOH solution to eliminate scratches and any damaged layers. The slices and the source were positioned at opposite ends of a quartz annealing device, with quartz crucibles evacuated to a pressure of 10^–5 Pa. The annealing temperature of both slice and source was selected at 773 K. Effect of annealing time on CdMgTe crystal properties was investigated at different holding time (i.e., 30, 60, 120 h, and 240 h). CdMgTe planar room-temperature radiation detectors were fabricated via evaporating Au electrodes onto the both sides of the annealed crystals.CdMgTe crystals before and after annealing in Se atmosphere were characterized by near-infrared spectrometry (NIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared transmission microscopy (IRTM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), infrared (IR) spectrometry, Raman spectrometry, and current-voltage (I–V) measurement. Room-temperature radiation detectors were prepared by evaporation of Au electrodes on both sides of CdMgTe crystals. The carrier mobility was determined by a time-of-flight (TOF) technology. The energy spectrum of the detectors was acquired by an ORTEC measurement system with uncollimated ²⁴¹Am α particles with an energy of 5.48 MeV as an irradiation source.Results and discussionThe band gap of the as-grown crystal is 1.505 eV, and annealing in Se atmosphere does not prevent the volatilization of Cd in CdMgTe crystals or reduce Te inclusions. After annealing, the maximum increase of the band gap is 0.042 eV. Se interacts with CdMgTe matrix via diffusion and chemisorption, forming chemical bonds that effectively result in the partial substitution of Se for Te., The solution strengthening effect of Se is more pronounced than that of Mg as the annealing time increases, causing that the microhardness initially decreases and then increases, which is lower than that of the as-grown crystal. The IR transmittance of the crystal after 120 h annealing is 63.6% , which approaches the theoretical value of 65%, thus satisfying a criterion for high-quality crystals. The peak intensity of A₁(Te) is basically unchanged based on the Raman spectra. However, an increase in the peak intensity of TO(CdTe) and a decrease in that of LO(CdTe) indicate that the lattice integrity in the annealed crystal is compromised.CdMgTe crystal obtained under optimal annealing conditions is fabricated into an Au/CdMgTe/Au planar structure for the room-temperature radiation detector. TOF measurements show a remarkable increase in electron mobility (μ_e), up to 344.47 cm²/(V·s). ²⁴¹Am α particle source with an energy of 5.48 MeV is used for detector energy spectrum testing. The optimal CdMgTe detector exhibits the performance with an energy resolution of 17.2% and a carrier mobility lifetime product (μτ)_e of 1.32×10^–4 cm²/V. Annealing in a Se atmosphere can thus offer an effective approach to enhance the quality of CdTe-based crystals.ConclusionsAn advanced annealing strategy was adopted for enhancing the quality of CdMgTe single crystals for room-temperature radiation detectors. After annealing, a decrease in Cd content along with an increase in Mg content resulted in an expanded band gap. The microhardness and the IR transmittance of the crystals firstly decreased and then increased, and the resistivity gradually decreased as the annealing time increased, thus improving the crystal quality. The optimum condition of Se atmosphere annealing was at 773 K for 120 h. The optimal performance of the detector was an electron mobility (μ_e) of 344.47 cm²/(V·s), an energy resolution of 17.2%, and a (μτ)_e product of 1.32×10^–4 cm²/V for ²⁴¹Am α particles with an energy of 5.48 MeV.