Refractive Index of Common Semiconductors
The refractive index of a material is a dimensionless quantity that describes how much light slows down or bends when it enters that material. The following table provides a comprehensive list of refractive index values for common semiconductors measured at wavelength (λ) of 589 nm.
| Crystal structure | Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| a-Sn | Diamond | IV-IV | 2.75 |
| AgBr | Sphalerite | I-VII | 2.253 |
| AgI | Sphalerite | I-VII | 2.22 |
| AlSb | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.2 |
| BeS | Sphalerite | II-VI | 4.17 |
| BeSe | Sphalerite | II-VI | 3.61 |
| BeTe | Sphalerite | II-VI | 1.45 |
| C | Diamond | IV-IV | 2.419 |
| CdS | Sphalerite | II-VI | 2.32 |
| CdS | Wurtzite | II-VI | 2.32 |
| CdTe | Sphalerite | II-VI | 2.5 |
| CuBr | Sphalerite | I-VII | 2.12 |
| CuCl | Sphalerite | I-VII | 1.93 |
| Cul | Sphalerite | I-VII | 2.346 |
| GaAs | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.3 |
| GaP | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.2 |
| GaSb | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.8 |
| Ge | Diamond | IV-IV | 3.99 |
| HgS | Sphalerite | II-VI | 2.85 |
| InAs | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.5 |
| InP | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.1 |
| InSb | Sphalerite | III-V | 3.96 |
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018.