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Cadmium Telluride

Cadmium telluride
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Cadmium telluride
Names
Other names
Irtran-6
Identifiers
3D model (Jmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.773
PubChem CID
RTECS number EV3330000
Properties
CdTe
Molar mass 240.01 g/mol
Density 5.85 g·cm−3
Melting point 1,041 °C (1,906 °F; 1,314 K)
Boiling point 1,050 °C (1,920 °F; 1,320 K)
insoluble
Solubility in other solvents insoluble
Band gap 1.5 eV (@300 K, direct)
2.67 (@10 µm)
Structure
Zinc blende
F43m
a = 648 pm
Hazards
Harmful (Xn)
Dangerous for the environment (N)
R-phrases R20/21/22, R50/53
S-phrases (S2), S60, S61
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
PEL (Permissible)
[1910.1027] TWA 0.005 mg/m3 (as Cd)
REL (Recommended)
Ca
IDLH (Immediate danger)
Ca [9 mg/m3 (as Cd)]
Related compounds
Other anions
Cadmium oxide
Cadmium sulfide
Cadmium selenide
Other cations
Zinc telluride
Mercury telluride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is a stable crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium. It is mainly used as the semiconducting material in cadmium telluride photovoltaics and an infrared optical window. It is usually sandwiched with cadmium sulfide to form a p-n junction solar PV cell. Typically, CdTe PV cells use a n-i-p structure.

CdTe is used to make thin film solar cells, accounting for about 8% of all solar cells installed in 2011. They are among the lowest-cost types of solar cell, although a comparison of total installed cost depends on installation size and many other factors, and has changed rapidly from year to year. The CdTe solar cell market is dominated by First Solar. In 2011, around 2 GWp of CdTe solar cells were produced; For more details and discussion see cadmium telluride photovoltaics.

CdTe can be alloyed with mercury to make a versatile infrared detector material (HgCdTe). CdTe alloyed with a small amount of zinc makes an excellent solid-state X-ray and gamma ray detector (CdZnTe).

CdTe is used as an infrared optical material for optical windows and lenses and is proven to provide a good performance across a wide range of temperatures. An early form of CdTe for IR use was marketed under the trademarked name of Irtran-6 but this is obsolete.


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