Band gap tuning and high electrical conductivity in amorphous and polycrystalline films of the Cux(CdTe)yOz system

Thin films of the semiconductor alloy Cu-x(CdTe)(y)O-z system were grown by reactive rf cosputtering. The effects of incorporating both copper and oxygen into a CdTe matrix were investigated. The films were polycrystalline, however, for the highest oxygen concentrations used in this work the grain size was reduced to nanometric dimensions. It is shown in this work that the optical and charge transport properties of the polycrystalline and amorphous films may be tailored by controlling the relative chemical composition. Remarkably, unusual p-type resistivity and mobility values have been measured for the amorphous films. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.