CdTe
CdTe is a II-VI semiconductor single crystal transparent from about 0.9 to 16 µm, available as optical grade, (211)B substrate material, chlorine-compensated CdTe:Cl and hot-pressed polycrystal.
Reference datasheet — CdTe is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
CdTe tempers and conditions
CdTe is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chlorine-compensated semi-insulating detector grade | Choose for room-temperature X-ray/gamma spectroscopy detectors needing >10^9 Ω·cm resistivity and good charge transport. | 22 | 0 | 48 HV | 6 W/m·K | |
Epi-ready (211)B oriented substrate for HgCdTe | Choose when a lattice-matched, low-EPD, epi-polished wafer is needed for HgCdTe infrared focal-plane growth. | 25 | 0 | 45 HV | 7 W/m·K | |
Polycrystalline / hot-pressed CdTe | Choose as low-cost 5N–6N feedstock: PV thin-film sputtering targets, sublimation source charges and crystal-growth raw material, not for imaging optics. | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways CdTe is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
OPTDefault | Optical grade single crystal | Grade option |
What is CdTe?
CdTe is a II-VI semiconductor single crystal transparent from about 0.9 to 16 µm, available as optical grade, (211)B substrate material, chlorine-compensated CdTe:Cl and hot-pressed polycrystal. It is used for 10.6 µm CO2 laser optics and as the lattice-matched substrate for HgCdTe infrared detector epitaxy, in the form of windows, lenses, wafers and electro-optic elements. The limits are cadmium toxicity in dust and swarf, low hardness with easy cleavage (machinability 45), a service ceiling near 300 °C and high cost. ZnSe is the usual alternative for CO2 laser windows. CdTe has a density of 5.85 g/cm³ (0.211 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of glass grades. It melts at 1,092°C (1,998 °F). The elastic modulus is 37 GPa (5.37 Msi).
What is CdTe used for?
- CO2 laser windows/lenses
- IR optics
- photorefractive/electro-optic devices
- IR detector substrates
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 85% of glass grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 5.85 g/cm³ (0.211 lb/in³), worse than 97% of glass grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.2 MPa·√m (0.182 ksi·√in), worse than 91% of glass grades
- Low stiffness — 37 GPa (5.37 Msi), worse than 86% of glass grades
- High embodied carbon — 45 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of glass grades
- Limited service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), worse than 80% of glass grades
CdTe properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
CdTe has a density of 5.85 g/cm³ (0.211 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of glass grades. It melts at 1,092°C (1,998 °F).
Mechanical9
The elastic modulus is 37 GPa (5.37 Msi).
Thermal5
CdTe is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 6.2 W/m·K (3.58 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 5.9 µm/m·K (3.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
CdTe has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 80% of glass grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of CdTe takes about 600 MJ of energy and emits 45 kg of CO₂ — more than 86% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability2
CdTe's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 85% of glass grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the glass family
Yield strength against density for every glass grade FabDigit runs. CdTe is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with CdTe
Is CdTe easy to machine?
Very soft and cleavage-prone — core drill/wire-saw with copious coolant, then single-point diamond turn at light depth of cut; never dry-grind (toxic Cd dust, extraction and wet handling mandatory).
Can CdTe be welded?
Not weldable; assemble by low-stress elastomer or optical-cement mounting, or metallize (Au/In) for soldered detector contacts.
Can CdTe be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming — shapes come from Bridgman/VGF/THM ingot growth or hot pressing of polycrystalline powder for targets.
CdTe chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cdstoichiometric CdTe; optical/detector grades from 6N–7N feedstock | 46.7 – 47 | 46.84 |
| Clintentional compensating dopant only in CdTe:Cl detector grade | 0 | 5×10⁻⁴ |
| Teslight Te excess common in as-grown Bridgman ingots | ≥ 53 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on CdTe?
Lap with alumina/diamond, chem-mechanical finish in bromine-methanol or CMP slurry for epi-ready wafers, then AR-coat (ZnSe/YF3 stacks) for 10.6 µm; keep dry, surfaces tarnish in humid air.
How much does CdTe cost?
CdTe is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
CdTe — frequently asked
What is CdTe used for?
CdTe is typically used for CO2 laser windows/lenses, IR optics, photorefractive/electro-optic devices and IR detector substrates. In short: 0.9 to 16 µm transmission; standard HgCdTe substrate; toxic cadmium handling required.
Is CdTe easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 85% of glass grades). Very soft and cleavage-prone — core drill/wire-saw with copious coolant, then single-point diamond turn at light depth of cut; never dry-grind (toxic Cd dust, extraction and wet handling mandatory).
Can CdTe be welded?
Not weldable; assemble by low-stress elastomer or optical-cement mounting, or metallize (Au/In) for soldered detector contacts.
What surface finishes work on CdTe?
Lap with alumina/diamond, chem-mechanical finish in bromine-methanol or CMP slurry for epi-ready wafers, then AR-coat (ZnSe/YF3 stacks) for 10.6 µm; keep dry, surfaces tarnish in humid air.
Can CdTe be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming — shapes come from Bridgman/VGF/THM ingot growth or hot pressing of polycrystalline powder for targets.
What is the maximum service temperature of CdTe?
CdTe is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does CdTe cost?
CdTe is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (CdTe chapter) — Academic Press (Palik ed.) (1998)
- Landolt-Börnstein III/17b, 41B — II-VI Compound Semiconductors — Springer (1999)
- CdTe infrared optical material datasheet — Crystran Ltd (2023)
- CdTe and CZT crystal / substrate specifications — Coherent (II-VI Incorporated) (2023)
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 104th ed. — CRC Press (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.