Ohmic contacts to zinc telluride and their high temperature behavior

Ohmic contacts to zinc telluride (ZnTe) have been studied as a function of operating temperature and at room temperature following annealing at 150 degree C for extended periods of time. Contacts investigated included Ag-diffused, electroless Au, Ag paste, Cu-graphite and electroless Cu-Au. Of these, the Cu-Au contacts improved with annealing and stabilized after 2 hr at 150 degree C. A copper/gold ratio of 98%/2% yielded a contact resistivity of 0.28 ohm-cm super(2) after stabilizing. Although the other contacts were ohmic, contact resistivity and/or stability was unacceptable.