Outdiffusion of Te Atoms through the Interfaces of Au/CdHgTe and Au/ZnHgTe

The interface characteristics of Au-deposited CdHgTe and ZnHgTe crystals have been investigated by means of AES, XPS and ELS. Electron beam-heating effect in AES spectroscopy measurements is found to be significant for both Hg desorption and the migration of the constituents of these compounds. During the deposition of nonreactive Au metal at room temperature, indiffusion of Au and outdiffusion of Te were observed. An interdiffusion model is tentatively proposed in which Te atoms diffuse via grain boundary of metal films and Au atoms may diffuse via Zn lattice sites.