A semiconductor device formed of Group II-VI compound semiconductor materials comprising:
- an optical emission heterostructure formed of group II-VI compound semiconductor materials, having first and second opposing faces and including a layer of p-type zinc selenide (ZnSe) or an alloy thereof at said first face thereof;
- a zinc mercury selenide (Zn.sub.x Hg.sub.1-x Se) layer or a zinc telluride selenide (ZnTe.sub.x Se.sub.1-x) layer on said layer of p-type ZnSe or an alloy thereof, where O<x<1;
- a mercury selenide (HgSe) layer on said Zn.sub.x Hg.sub.1-x Se layer or said ZnTe.sub.x Se.sub.1-x layer, opposite said optical emission heterostructure;
- an ohmic electrode on said HgSe layer, opposite said Zn.sub.x Hg.sub.1-x Se layer or said ZnTe.sub.x Se.sub.1-x layer;
- and
- a transparent ohmic electrode on said second face of said optical emission heterostructure, for allowing optical emissions from said optical emission heterostructure to pass therethrough.