Mechanism of Charge Transport and Light Emission in ZnSe<i>x</i>Te1−<i>x</i> <i>p-n</i> Junctions

Abstract

Electrical transport, photoconductivity, and luminescence measurements have been performed on high-resistivity p- and n-type ZnSexTe1−x crystals. p-n junction diodes prepared from such material, when cooled from 300° to 80°K in the dark, pass very little current and will not emit light. A momentary illumination with radiation of hν&amp;gt;1.9 eV will initiate a steady, efficient light emission, and produce an increase in current by a factor of about 1010. The experimental data obtained will be used to propose a mechanism for the charge transport and light emission in ZnSexTe1−x p-n junctions which involves a self-induced photoconductivity process in both the p- and the n-type bulk of the diodes.