Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is a material composed of cadmium and telluride compounds that is often used in photovoltaics. Cadmium Telluride offers numerous advantages over other photovoltaic materials due to its ease of fabrication and high efficiency. The primary benefit of Cdte lies in its ability to absorb sunlight quickly and convert it into electrical power with very little loss. This makes Cdte an ideal material for photovoltaic applications which require a high degree of efficiency.
Cadmium telluride is a semiconductor material composed of molecules of cadmium and tellurium. The material can be produced in a variety of different forms, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, nanocrystalline, or amorphous. Depending on the form, the material may have varying electrical properties. For example, monocrystalline Cdte tends to have the highest efficiency of any Cdte form. The material is usually made in the form of a thin film and deposited on a substrate such as glass, ceramic, or metal.
Cdte can be used to make photovoltaic cells, which are devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy. The most common type of photovoltaic cell is the p-n junction, which is composed of two different semiconductor materials connected by a junction. The two materials are typically p-type, which has more holes in the lattice structure than electrons, and n-type, which has more electrons than holes in the lattice structure. When sunlight strikes the junction, it knocks electrons loose from their respective energy levels and creates an electric field between the p-type and n-type regions. This electric field then allows for the flow of electrons between the two regions, creating an electrical current.
When Cdte is used in a p-n junction, its band gap energy is used to separate the energy levels of the electrons and holes. This band gap energy acts as an energy barrier, preventing electrons from crossing the junction. The higher the band gap, the more electrons are blocked from crossing the junction and the more efficient the device. As a result, Cdte is often used in conjunction with another semiconductor that has a very small band gap to increase the efficiency of the junction.
Cdte is also used in other applications such as flat panel displays and integrated circuit fabrication. In displays, Cdte is used as a charge trapping plate. This plate traps electrical charges, creating an electric field, which provides the basis for displaying an image. Cdte is also used in integrated circuit fabrication because it can form ohmic contacts very easily. Ohmic contacts are electrical connections that allow current to flow between two components, which is essential in circuit fabrication.
Overall, Cdte has numerous advantages that make it attractive for use in photovoltaic applications. Its band gap energy is excellent for creating efficient p-n junctions, and its ability to form ohmic contacts easily makes it ideal for circuit fabrication. Furthermore, the fact that it is easy to fabricate and F-doped semiconductor makes it a great choice for display and flat panel technologies. All in all, Cadmium Tellurides versatility and ability to convert sunlight into electricity make it a great choice for photovoltaic applications.
