Improvement of radiation detection performance of detector prepared by CdZnTe epitaxial single crystal

The radiation detection performance of CZT epitaxial single crystal grown by the Close Space Sublimation (CSS) method is hindered by inherent defects. However, significant improvement in this work is achieved through annealing in a Te₂ atmosphere. The saturation channel value of the total energy peak of the detector for ²⁴¹Am α-particles has shown a substantial increase from 1900 to 6000, resulting in a notable enhancement of the carrier collection efficiency. After annealing, the detector's energy resolution to ²⁴¹Am gamma-rays can reach 8.3%, representing the highest energy resolution achieved by CSS growth of CZT materials. This remarkable achievement holds great promise for its potential application in the field of low-energy detection. Analysis of the laser-beam-induced current (LBIC) curve results reveals that the surface recombination of the detector is more pronounced prior to annealing, adversely affecting the transport process of photogenerated carriers. The low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) results and I–V curve demonstrate a significant compensation effect on the shallow acceptor level V_Cd after annealing, leading to a reduced concentration of free carriers and subsequently leading to lower leakage current and improved signal-to-noise ratio for the detector. The concurrent reduction in leakage current and surface recombination contributes collectively to improving the radiation detection performance of the CZT detector. These findings underscore the importance of annealing in a Te₂ atmosphere as a viable method for mitigating defects and optimizing the performance of CZT epitaxial single crystals, showcasing the potential for broader applications in the field of low-energy detection.