Supercool method for producing single crystal mercury cadmium telluride

摘要

A process for producing single crystal Hg1-xCdxTe is disclosed. An ingot of Hg1-xcdxTe is prepared from a stoichiometric mixture of mercury, cadmium and tellurium by the supercooling of a heated mixture thereof from a point above liquidus to a point, a predetermined function of x, below liquidus. The ingot is then quenched in ambient air, producing a large amount of crystallites with small grain boundaries. The subsequent application of heat to the ingot yields a relatively large amount of single crystal material.