CdTe Nanocrystal Synthesis in SiO2/Si Ion-Track Template: The Study of Electronic and Structural Properties

Abstract

The synthesis of CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) is performed by electrochemical deposition into prepared ion tracks in a a-SiO₂/Si-n template. As a result, CdTe NCs are obtained in a wurtzite (WZ) crystal phase. The measurement of the current–voltage characteristics shows that the CdTe (WZ NC)/SiO₂/Si system obtained in this way has n-type conductivity. Computer simulations using the CRYSTAL computer code show good agreement between experimental and calculated lattice parameters. The theoretical calculations also show that the crystal has a direct bandgap at the Γ point of the Brillouin zone.