Preparation of CdTe by thermal decomposition of metal alkoxide

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) was synthesized by thermal decomposition of metal alkoxide at temperatures as low as 300 degrees C. The influences of alkoxide species and their atmosphere of decomposition have been investigated, Thermal decomposition was carried out in three different atmospheres: Air, N-2 and H-2. CdTe double alkoxides, which were prepared by the reaction of Te-alkoxide in the presence of Na-alkoxide with cadmium acetate, produced CdTe powders by its thermal decomposition in H-2 atmosphere. The primary particle size of the powders obtained was submicron, and however, particles agglomerated to several micrometers in diameter. When the CdTe double alkoxides were decomposed in Air or N-2 atmosphere, CdTeO3 was obtained. The Cd-alkoxide was insoluble in toluene solution of Te-alkoxide even at a refluxing condition. Thermal decomposition of the supernatant after reacting solid Cd-alkoxide with Te-alkoxide in toluene for 20h yielded Te metal with a small extent of CdTe in H-2 atmosphere. The formation of CdTe was also discussed based on thermodynamic data.