Electrolyte electroreflectance study of the effects of anodization and of chemomechanical polish on Hg1−xCdxTe

We havw shown that electrolyte electroreflectance (EER) can be used as a sensitive probe to study the effects of processing agents on the near surface bulk. Our results indicate that Br2/methanol may be damaging Hg‐annealed materials to a depth of about 600 Angstroms, depleting them in Cd and leaving their surfaces covered with a Te‐rich layer. While it is possible to remove the damaged layer anodization‐dissolution steps, our results show that such a procedure must be terminated when the undamaged material has been reached. If it is continued, the difference between the rates at which the Cd and Hg diffuse through the oxide would again deplete the interface in Cd.