CdTe:Cl
Grade
CdTe:Cl = 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.
Values for the CdTe:Cl condition
Other CdTe tempers and conditions
CdTe is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at CdTe.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CdTe:ClThis page 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. | — | — | — | — | — |
What is CdTe:Cl?
CdTe:Cl is CdTe in the CdTe:Cl grade — choose for room-temperature X-ray/gamma spectroscopy detectors needing >10^9 Ω·cm resistivity and good charge transport. The elastic modulus is 38 GPa (5.51 Msi). CdTe:Cl 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).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 35/100, better than 77% of glass grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 5.85 g/cm³ (0.211 lb/in³), worse than 97% of glass grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.18 MPa·√m (0.164 ksi·√in), worse than 91% of glass grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 88% of glass grades
- Low stiffness — 38 GPa (5.51 Msi), worse than 85% of glass grades
- High embodied carbon — 45 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 84% of glass grades
CdTe:Cl properties
Typical room-temperature values for CdTe:Cl; 16 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are CdTe reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
CdTe:Cl 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 38 GPa (5.51 Msi).
Thermal5
CdTe:Cl is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 5.8 W/m·K (3.35 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:Cl has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁸ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (48/100), worse than 80% of glass grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of CdTe:Cl 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:Cl's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 77% of glass grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with CdTe:Cl
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.
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.
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) | — |
CdTe:Cl — frequently asked
What is CdTe:Cl used for?
CdTe:Cl 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:Cl easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 77% 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:Cl 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:Cl?
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:Cl 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:Cl?
CdTe:Cl is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.