Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
This paper reports the observation of HgTe precipitate formation and its subsequent evolution in a PbTe semiconductor matrix containing 4 mol. % HgTe (PbTe-4HgTe) produced by a controlled precipitation process. The controlled precipitation process is being developed as a new way to produce a large number of quality semiconductor nanocrystals more simply than the conventional methods. Characterization of the HgTe precipitates resulting from application of controlled precipitation to the PbTe-4HgTe alloy system provides evidence that this method is effective in generating nanocrystals. Transmission electron microscopy of the processed alloys reveals that HgTe precipitates are extremely small in size, maintain a coherent interface, and experience a unique shape evolution with aging.