II–IV Semiconductors for Optoelectronics: CdS, CdSe, CdTe

Abstract

Owing to their suitable band gaps and high absorption coefficients, Cd-based compounds such as CdTe and CdS are the most promising photovoltaic materials available for low-cost high-efficiency solar cells. Additionally, because of their large atomic number, Cd-based compounds such as CdTe and CdZnTe, have been applied to radiation detectors. For these reasons, preparation techniques for these materials in the polycrystalline films and bulk single crystals demanded by these devices have advanced significantly in recent decades, and practical applications have been realized in optoelectronic devices. This chapter mainly describes the application of these materials in solar cells and radiation detectors and introduces recent progress.