Growth and Some Properties of a Large Single Crystal of Cadmium Selenide

Large single crystals of cadmium selenide have been grown under high pressures. A 17 gram crystal has been prepared from pure starting materials. This crystal was found to contain a large excess of cadmium, probably varying in concentration through the length of the crystal. Samples cut from the crystal had low resistivities of about 10—2 ohm-centimeters. Hall coefficients indicated that the current carriers were electrons in concentrations of 1017 to 1018 cm—3. The resistivity-temperature curves were characteristic of degenerate semiconductors. Intrinsic conductivity was not observed between —170°C and +100°C.