Sensor studies of the initial stages of the cadmium telluride film formation through vapor deposition

The results of sensor and electron-microscopic studies of the initial stages of cadmium telluride film formation through vapor deposition on a substrate at room temperature and on a substrate cooled by liquid nitrogen (highly nonequilibrium conditions) are reported. A piezoelectric quartz resonator is used as a sensor. The kinetic curves of the sensor analytical signal and photomicrographs are presented. A jumplike character of the nucleation process and a quasi-periodical growth mechanism for island films are disclosed. A sequence of new-phase island ensembles is formed in an analogous way. These islands increase the substrate surface coverage in a quasi-discrete manner. The experimental results are shown to agree with current theory of the first-order phase transitions and models of layer formation in highly nonequilibrium conditions.