Optical constants of CdTe (Cadmium telluride)
DeBell et al. 1979: n 6–22 µm; 300 K
Complex refractive index (n+ik)
Derived optical constants
Dispersion formula
$$n^2-1=\frac{6.1977889λ^2}{λ^2-0.1005326}+\frac{3.2243821λ^2}{λ^2-5279.518}$$Comments
300 K (26.85 °C)
References
A. G. DeBell, E. L. Dereniak, J. Harvey, J. Nissley, J. Palmer, A. Selvarajan, W. L. Wolfe. Cryogenic refractive indices and temperature coefficients of cadmium telluride from 6 µm to 22 µm. Appl. Opt. 18, 3114-3115 (1979)
Data
Additional information
About Cadmium telluride
Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is an inorganic compound that typically crystallizes in a cubic zincblende structure. It is a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap energy of approximately 1.5 eV, making it highly suitable for photovoltaic applications, especially thin-film solar cells. CdTe solar cells are commercially significant due to their lower manufacturing costs and competitive efficiency levels compared to silicon-based cells. Besides photovoltaics, CdTe is also employed in infrared detectors, radiation detectors, and electro-optic modulators. However, the presence of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, calls for stringent handling and disposal protocols and has prompted research into recycling methods. Synthesis methods for CdTe include physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and close-spaced sublimation, among others, each offering unique advantages in terms of film quality and manufacturing scalability. Despite the environmental concerns related to its toxicity, CdTe remains a highly relevant material in renewable energy technologies and continues to attract research efforts aimed at mitigating its environmental impact.
Other names and variations:- CdTe