Effect of Cd impurity on the electrical properties of a-Se80Te20

Temperature dependence of dark and photoconductivity is studied in amorphous films of Se₈₀Te_20−xCd_x in the temperature range (300 K to 380 K) with a view to see the effect of Cd impurity on a-Se₈₀Te₂₀ binary alloy. It is observed that, at low concentration of Cd (x = 0.5), the dark and photoconductivity increase at all temperatures. However, at higher concentration of Cd (x = 10), an appreciable reduction in these parameters occurs in the same temperature range. The photosensitivity (σ_ph/σ_d) remains unchanged at x = 0.5 but decreases quite significantly at x = 10. The results are explained in terms of impurity doping at x = 0.5 and alloying effect at x = 10.