Annealing effect on the P-type carrier concentration in low-temperature processed arsenic-doped HgCdTe

We report the results of annealing effects on the As-doped alloy HgCdTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), arsenic (As) diffusion in HgCdTe from Hg-rich solutions at low temperatures, and As ion implantation at room temperature. Hall-effect measurements, secondary ion mass spectrometry and p-on-n test photodiodes were used to characterize the As activation. High As-doping levels (10¹⁷−10¹⁹ cm⁻³) could be obtained using either MBE growth, As diffusion or As ion-implantation. Annealed below 400°C, As doping in HgCdTe shows n-type characteristics, but above 410°C demonstrates that all methods of As doping exhibit p-type characteristics independent of As incorporation techniques. For example, for samples annealed at 436°C (P_Hg≈2 atm), in addition to p-type activation, we observe a significant improvement of p/n junction characteristics independent of the As source; i.e. As doping either in situ, by diffusion, or ion implantation. A study of this As activation of As-doped MBE HgCdTe as a function of anneal temperature reveals a striking similarity to results observed for As diffusion into HgCdTe and implanted As activation as a function of temperature. The observed dependence of As activation on partial pressure of Hg at various temperatures in the range of 250 to 450°C suggests that As acts as an acceptor at high Hg pressure (>1 atm) and as a donor at low Hg pressure (<1 atm) even under Hg-rich conditions.