Electronic properties of aluminum/CdZnTe interfaces

Understanding complex correlations between the macroscopic device performance and the contact formation on the atomic level in CdZnTe radiation detectors remains an enormous challenge. In this work, an effort towards bridging that macro-nano knowledge gap is made by systematic study of the electronic structures in the interface of Al/CdZnTe(111)A and Al/CdZnTe(111)B with Al coverage from sub-monolayer to multilayers using photoemission spectroscopy. Remarkable difference of the electronic states was found in these two interfaces. A strong interaction between Al and CdZnTe(111)A was observed at room temperature and thick interface layers (>12 nm) formed. In contrast, an intermix layer with a thickness of about one atomic layer (∼0.3 nm) was formed at Al/CdZnTe(111)B interface.