FORMING CONTACTS ON SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATES FOR RADIATION DETECTORS AND IMAGING DEVICES

摘要

A method, suitable for forming metal contacts 31 on a semiconductor substrate 1 at positions for defining radiation detector cells, includes the steps of forming one or more layers of material 11,12 on a surface of the substrate with openings 23 to the substrate surface at the contact positions; forming a layer of metal 24 over the layer(s) of material and the openings; and removing metal at 28 overlying the layer(s) of material to separate individual contacts. Optionally, a passivation layer 11 to be left between individual contacts on the substrate surface, may be applied during the method. A method according to the invention prevents etchants used for removing unwanted gold (or other contact matter) coming into contact with the surface of the substrate (e.g. CdZnTe) and causing degradation of the resistive properties of that substrate. The product of the method and uses thereof are also described.