THE EFFECT OF PRECIPITATION ON THE OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF AL-ZN THIN-FILMS

The optical constants n and k of Al-40 wt% Zn alloy thin films deposit ed at room temperature were calculated using a transmission spectrum i n the wavelength range from 2.5 to 20 mu m. The thickness of the films ranged from 10 to 85 nm. The investigated samples were aged at 373 K and 473 K for 1 h and some microcharacteristics of Al-Zn alloy films s uch as the free charge concentration N, the relaxation time tau, the s tatic conductivity sigma, the electron velocity at Fermi surface V-f a nd Fermi energy were determined. The effective absorption assumed the value 63.7% and the absorption due to bound electrons is therefore 36. 3%. The role of the solute atoms (Zn) was considered to explain the re sults. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.