Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol.355, No.1, 113-121, 2012
Maintaining convex interface shapes during electrodynamic gradient freeze growth of cadmium zinc telluride using a dynamic, bell-curve furnace profile
A novel, bell-curve furnace temperature profile is presented and predicted to achieve macroscopically convex solid-liquid interface shapes during melt growth of CZT in an EDG furnace. A strategy is also presented to dynamically adapt this furnace profile so that uniform, convex interface shapes are maintained through an entire growth run. This approach represents a significant advance over traditional gradient-freeze profiles, which always yield concave interface shapes, and static heat transfer designs, such as pedestal design, that achieve convex interfaces over only a small portion of the growth run. Importantly, this strategy may be applied to any Bridgman configuration that utilizes multiple, controllable heating zones. Realizing a convex solidification interface via this adaptive bell-curve furnace profile is postulated to result in better crystallinity and higher yields than conventional CZT growth techniques. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Computer simulation;Convection;Heat transfer;Segregation;Bridgman technique;Semiconducting II-VI materials