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The magical functions of cobalt antimony and cadmium telluride alloys: How to shine in infrared detection?
In the fields of physical science and materials engineering, the rise of cobalt antimony (CdTe) alloy is gradually changing the face of infrared detection technology. This stable crystalline compound, composed of cadmium and tellurium, not only plays an important role as a semiconductor material in cobalt antimony photovoltaic cells, but also displays unparalleled performance in infrared optical windows and sensors.
The application potential of cobalt-antimony alloy in infrared detection cannot be ignored. Its superior physical properties allow it to continue to emit light and heat in many fields.
In recent years, the application range of cobalt-antimony (CdTe) alloys has rapidly expanded. In thin-film solar cells, cobalt-antimony alloys accounted for approximately 8% of all solar cell devices in 2011. While the cost is relatively low, actual installation costs vary with the size of the installation and multiple other factors. Interestingly, in the current market, First Solar has a dominant position in the CdTe solar cell market. With the advancement of technology, the generation technology and performance of cobalt antimony alloys are also constantly improving.
Diverse applications and combinations
In addition to being used in solar cells, CdTe can also be amalgamated with amalgam to form a multifunctional infrared detection material (HgCdTe). In addition, CdTe alloyed with a small amount of zinc makes an excellent solid-state X-ray and gamma ray detector (CdZnTe). Not only are these materials transparent to infrared light in their bulk form, their energy bandgap properties make them excellent performers in specialized applications.
CdTe has shown application potential in food and drug packaging detection, environmental monitoring and other fields, which raises new possibilities for future technological development.
Physical and chemical properties
In terms of physical properties, the thermal expansion coefficient of cadmium tellurium alloy is 5.9×10−6/K, and the Young’s modulus at 293 K is 52 GPa. Its melting point is as high as 1,041 °C, making it very stable in industrial applications. Chemically, CdTe is insoluble in water, so it has advantages in management stability under high temperatures and different environments.
Toxicity assessment
Regarding health and safety, the toxicity assessment of CdTe shows that its effects are different from those of cadmium and tellurium. After testing, preliminary results show that the acute inhalation, oral and aquatic toxicity of cobalt-antimony alloy is lower than that of its single element. In addition, according to the assessment of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), CdTe is no longer labeled as a hazardous substance.
Future Development
As the demand for renewable resources continues to rise, CdTe recycling research has gradually become an important part of the academic community. Past forecasts have shown that by 2038, the CdTe optoelectronics industry will rely heavily on recycled tellurium resources, a development direction that may shape new business models and resource recycling opportunities in the future.
Through effective material efficiency and recycling systems, future solar technology has the opportunity to fully rely on recycled cobalt antimony alloys, which will be an advancement that cannot be underestimated.
As a material that excels in infrared detection and other applications, cobalt-antimony alloy CdTe will undoubtedly play an important role in future technological development. As technology continues to advance, what new heights can this material reach in future applications?
