JX Nippon Mining & Metals Develops New Applications for CdZnTe

JX Nippon Mining & Metals plans to start market development for cadmium-zinc-telluride (CdZnTe) single crystal wafer. The firm has supplied CdZnTe single crystal wafers for infrared applications so far. However, the applications are limited and the market size is small. The firm projects to cultivate radiation related applications, mainly in medical fields, and expects for large sales increase of CdZnTe wafers.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals produces CdZbTe single crystal ingot at Isohara plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, adding zinc at around 5% to cadmium and tellurium with 99.9999% purity. The firm slices CdZnTe ingot into wafers with 1-8 square centimeters and supplies wafers to infrared sensor makers such as electric appliance makers or national laboratories.

Infrared sensors are used for blood flow monitors, infrared astronomical telescopes, optical sensors, security equipments or mineral resource explorations. The current major application is space satellites.

JX Nippon Mining & Metals holds 80% global market shares for CdZnTe single crystal wafer adopted to infrared applications. However, the market size is small with the limited applications. The firm aims to start CdZnTe wafer supply to radiation related fields since the market size is very large.

Radiation related applications involve dental camera, CT scanner, breast cancer screening device or medical imaging camera. CdZnTe wafers can be also used for area monitors inside radiation facilities or handy dosimeters. JX Nippon Mining & Metals expects for large sales increase of CdZnTe wafers.

However, scintillator crystal is now majorly used in radiation fields. CdZnTe wafer represents higher sensitivity than scintillator crystal and contributes to device downsizing while the price is expensive compared with scintillator crystal. JX Nippon Mining & Metals tries to develop new productive technology for CdZnTe wafer most suitable for radiation applications by speed and temperature control in single crystal generation.